John Walton Collier | |
|---|---|
 Army Medal of Honor | |
| Born | April 3, 1929 Worthington, Kentucky |
| Died | September 19, 1950 (aged 21) Pusan Perimeter, Korea |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | -1950 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
John Walton Collier (April 3, 1929 – September 19, 1950) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. On June 24, 1951, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter.
Awards and decorations
 |
Medal of Honor |
 |
Purple Heart |
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Chindong-ni, Korea, September 19, 1950,
Entered service at: Worthington, Ky. Born: April 3, 1929, Worthington, Ky
G.O. No.: 86, August 2, 1951.
- Citation
Cpl. Collier, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While engaged in an assault on a strategic ridge strongly defended by a fanatical enemy, the leading elements of his company encountered intense automatic weapons and grenade fire. Cpl. Collier and 3 comrades volunteered and moved forward to neutralize an enemy machine gun position which was hampering the company's advance, but they were twice repulsed. On the third attempt, Cpl. Collier, despite heavy enemy fire and grenade barrages, moved to an exposed position ahead of his comrades, assaulted and destroyed the machine gun nest, killing at least 4 enemy soldiers. As he returned down the rocky, fire-swept hill and joined his squad, an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Shouting a warning to his comrades, he, selflessly and unhesitatingly, threw himself upon the grenade and smothered its explosion with his body. This intrepid action saved his comrades from death or injury. Cpl. Collier's supreme, personal bravery, consummate gallantry, and noble self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.[1]
See also
Notes
- ↑ ""JOHN W. COLLIER" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ""JOHN W. COLLIER" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2007-12-30.