july june soldier united_states_army korean war posthumously received medal honor actions near south_korea june born coal mining family west_virginia moved new_york_city world war enlisting high school served occupied germany occupied japan administrative duties requesting transfer african american transferred segregated 24th infantry regiment fighting korean war battle hill near village took command platoon commanding officer injured leading successive assaults hill continued lead attack despite mortal wounds chinese troops occupying destroyed saving platoon actions awarded medal following years honored numerous times given spot arlington national cemetery family claimed racial discrimination controversy attracted national attention finally arlington biography early life born west_virginia july eighth children born coal née housewife briefly moved west_virginia live brother arthur family moved new_york_city new_york superintendent apartment building enrolled friends family knew indicated desire join united_states_army young age high school parents allow drop enlist wanting fight world war parents refused graduated high school remained committed joining army parents signed papers allowing year old enlist military career left basic combat training november african american entered army time segregated president ordered military executive order units remained facto segregated african americans service units non combat duties years troops fully integrated graduating basic training assigned allied occupied germany served opted enlist assignment military engineering battalion maryland assigned given administrative job okinawa engineering group indicated desire fight korean war requested transfer line unit south_korea subsequently assigned 24th infantry regiment regiment facto segregated units entirely african american men led white officers arrival september regiment plagued poor performance accusations division commander major general requested unit disbanded finding regiment arrived regiment early regarded suspicion officers leaders unit sergeant squad leader 3rd platoon quickly impressed unit company commander natural leadership ability soon squad considered model unit platoon sergeant commander recommended battlefield commission medal honor action late early june launched operation concentrated effort push chinese north korean troops north south_korea advanced operation 24th infantry saw slow advance operation attempting advance encountering strong resistance july 24th infantry took heavy casualties forced withdraw reserve positions 1st moved continue advance june moved capture hill near village hill protected heavily entrenched chinese infantry mortars hill attempt advance hill company took heavy casualties 3rd platoon leader mortally wounded took command platoon reorganized attack heavy fire eventually forced company hill times led platoon hill face intense chinese mortars infantry fire spite mounting casualties platoon slow progress single destroyed chinese positions killed chinese soldiers rifle fire grenades advance wounded chest refused medical treatment pushed company forward continued lead attack platoon times separated unit subsequent accounts noted continued advance holding chest wound hand leadership platoon managed overcome chinese infantry positions spotted chinese bunker far hill chinese mortars firing recounted private class men platoon decided destroy bunker known words let urged platoon forward charging formation ahead rest soldiers final action advanced hill location chinese mortars firing repeatedly chinese troops wounded final time grenade continued firing position destroyed subsequently died wounds inflicted grenade credited saving platoon heavy fire mortars burial honors parents presented medal honor march secretary army renamed new_york based ferry boat traveled september west_virginia renamed bridge honor interstate park area named gardens planted honor gardens site annual memorial day gatherings local neighborhood residents killed korean war honored new barracks complex forces korea south_korea named honor united_states_navy commissioned watson class vehicle cargo ship sister served ship sponsor controversy burial death offered burial plot arlington national cemetery arlington virginia custom routinely afforded medal honor recipients army later claimed administrative error family believed omission racial discrimination instead buried segregated cemetery west_virginia military offer arlington family refused grounds oversight discrimination instead offered bury cemetery march military honors ceremony attended army generals honor guard buried african american controversy received national coverage written los_angeles_times november following efforts medal honor winners finally arlington national cemetery remains currently reside awards decorations awards decorations include medal honor citation second african americans awarded medal korean war posthumously honored actions 24th infantry regiment african americans nominated medal honor spanish american war world war veterans later nominated nominations seen delays unit commanders refused submit nominations sgt member distinguished conspicuous gallantry duty action enemy platoon attacking heavily defended hostile positions commanding ground leader wounded evacuated sgt assumed command rallied men spearheaded assault hill personally eliminating hostile positions killing enemy rifle fire grenades continued slope unit suffered heavy casualties pinned men led forward shower grenades despite severe chest wound sgt refused medical attention led daring charge carried crest ridge observing remaining advance situated reverse slope charged hit grenade position devastating fire eliminated routed defenders wounds received daring exploits resulted death courage superb leadership self sacrifice reflect highest credit infantry military service
Cornelius H. Charlton