november december soldier united_states_army world war korean war rose rank received medal honor actions august september second battle south_korea born nebraska grew family farm enlisting army served tank commander world war seeing combat germany war served occupation force south_korea japan outbreak korean war commanded tank 2nd fighting commanded tank single repeated north korean attempts cross river units withdrawn wounded twice killed north korean troops action receiving medal served remained army years retiring lived kentucky death buried kentucky biography born november dwight nebraska farming family spent early life family farm enlisting united_states_army june world war united_states entered world war trained tank crew member assigned division landed normandy late september moved lines october mission patrol duty quiet sector german frontier germans launched winter offensive quickly involved battle experience division saw heavy action units unprepared counter offensive fighting widely separated areas stand held germans long enable dig defense city resulting rest period january preparations drive offensive launched february 9th smashed sending patrols found intact seized elements minutes demolition charges set explode march division exploited moving south east thousands allied prisoners liberated division drove frankfurt turned assist closing april continued east encircled leipzig secured line division shifting south czechoslovakia war europe ended day following end war decided stay army moved south_korea occupation duties moved japan post war occupation country eventually assigned tank commander company stationed fort lewis washington time home maine fort lewis korean war following outbreak war north_korea south_korea june united_states mobilized large contingent troops send country initially units occupying japan called country forces eventually dispatched united_states august sergeant class sailed korea arrived late august moved line perimeter troops fighting tight defensive line port city preparing september offensive capturing areas cut 2nd division route supply withdrawal north unaware 2nd recently replaced 24th positions consequently expected lighter resistance 24th troops exhausted months fighting 2nd division men fresh newly arrived korea established lines shortly north began attack north began crossing cover darkness certain points southern flank 9th infantry regiment river line junction company 1st battalion dug long finger ridge paralleling terminates hill ferry site river road running west passes southern tip ridge crosses west river ferry small village called lay base hill yards river patrol tanks armored vehicles infantry squads company held near ferry close evening august company moved ridge positions overlooking river new positions river ridge line medal honor action evening led patrol tanks gun motor carriages placed patrol west near ferry heavy fog covered river mortar shells began falling american held river strike intensified north korean mortar preparation struck company positions american mortars artillery began firing counter battery company men reported hearing noises opposite river water fog lifted saw north korean bridge laid river directly position vehicles attacked structure manning caliber machine gun atop tank gunner fired tank main cannon sank boats attempting cross river machine gun small arms fight left company north tanks gunfire lasted minutes company squads near tanks heard field telephone company withdrawing likewise instead opted act rearguard cover infantry wounded shortly foot tank ammunition quickly fought north korean attack river machine gun force ambushed group north dressed military uniforms wounded second time shoulder beat repeated north korean crossings machine gun strong attacks came meters tank able drive despite wounds eventually vehicles withdrew held crossing site morning tank point tank surrounded engage north outside tank machine gun fire point blank range tank gun ammunition expended pistol grenades hold tank withdrew miles newly established american lines destroying north korean machine gun positions way action killed estimated north korean troops actions fight surpassed highly decorated army soldier credited kills world war second decorated soldier war returned unit attempted resupply tank return lines instead wounded ordered evacuate medical treatment evacuated requested return lines subsequent career retirement returned duty days later shortly promoted evacuated united_states presented medal honor actions originally awarded award upgraded medal honor presented medal honor president ceremony white house got medal alongside soldiers awarded medal awarded medal served nebraska spent remainder korean war tank gunnery instructor fort kentucky following end war remained army served second tour duty tours tank commander unit fort colorado second unit germany remained army years combat time korea retired age lived quiet life kentucky retirement died december buried fort post cemetery competition fort subsequently named honor dining facility named honor fort road awards decorations decorated times world war decorations included following medals medal honor citation soldiers awarded medal honor korean war present presentation medals reported soldiers awarded medal posthumously unbeknownst public awarded medal actions actually prisoner war north_korea rank organization master sergeant date korea august september entered service dwight born november dwight june sgt tank commander company distinguished conspicuous gallantry risk life duty action enemy unit engaged supporting infantry elements near midnight august hostile force estimated crossed river launched fierce attack infantry positions inflicting heavy casualties withdrawal ordered armored unit given mission covering movement secondary position established enemy assault overran tanks destroyed forced withdraw suddenly sgt discovered tank obstacle path hostile onslaught holding ground gave fire orders crew remained position night fighting repeated enemy attacks fierce assault enemy surrounded tank armored turret exposing hail hostile fire manned caliber machine gun mounted rear deck delivered fire foe machine gun emptied fired pistol threw grenades enemy tank hours constant combat close fighting withdrew vehicle friendly lines withdrawal miles hostile territory sgt continued inflict casualties enemy exhausted ammunition destroying hostile machine gun positions action sgt killed estimated enemy soldiers magnificent stand allowed infantry sufficient time defensive positions rejoining company suffering intensely wounds attempted resupply tank return battle area evacuated medical treatment courage displayed requested return sgt superb leadership heroism intense devotion duty reflect highest credit uphold traditions
Ernest R. Kouma