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Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division
General Orders No. 261 - August 8, 1952
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Corporal Colin D. Kain (ASN: RA-11195710), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving with Battery D, 3d Antiaircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion (Self Propelled), 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 30 April 1952, Corporal Kain and two comrades were manning a gun position near Yonchon, Korea. Corporal Kain was standing guard at the gun and the other two soldiers were resting in their tent when two small Korean boys approached, playing with an unknown object which turned out to be a white phosphorus grenade. As Corporal Kain started over to stop the Koreans, they dropped the grenade at the edge of the tent occupied by the two soldiers. The grenade exploded, throwing burning white phosphorus over the two Koreans and the soldiers. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Corporal Kain immediately started smothering the burns on both soldiers and Koreans with mud and with his bare hands. He burned both his hands severely in giving aid to the soldiers and Koreans but had it not been for his courageous act, all four would have suffered more serious or possibly fatal injuries. Corporal Kain's heroism and untiring devotion in endangering his own life to go to the aid of his fellow men reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.
Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division
General Orders No. 159 - 30 March 1952
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Corporal Walter O. Kaiser (ASN: RA-17277173), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States as a member of Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, on 23 January 1952 in the vicinity of Twi-gol, Korea. On that date, Corporal Kaiser was a member of a Tank-Infantry team, which had halted near the area of Company B to permit the infantrymen to dismount. Situated near this point was a halftrack, bearing a tremendous amount of ammunition, and several cans of gasoline. While the troops were dismounting, the gasoline in the halftrack ignited, threatening the entire company area and the vital main supply route. Corporal Kaiser, with complete disregard for his personal safety, ran to the halftrack, and climbing into the vehicle, threw out the burning gasoline cans and the ammunition. He then used a fire extinguisher and sand to successfully halt the conflagration in the half-track. His quick thinking and immediate action in this difficult situation was a major factor in saving the lives of many personnel who were in the immediate vicinity. The heroism displayed by Corporal Kaiser reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.
Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division
General Orders No. 342 - 26 September 1952
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant First Class Steve J. Karamanos (ASN: US-51046241), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States as a member of Tank Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, in action at Pammol, North Korea on the night of 28 - 29 July 1952. At about 2230 hours, 28 July 1952, five soldiers, occupants of a 2½ ton truck, had mistakenly taken a ford through the Yong-pyong River which was closed to vehicular traffic due to flood conditions. When an emergency call was sounded for a tank with a volunteer crew, Sergeant Karamanos was one of the first to volunteer. The deep and swift water hampered the use of the tank, so a human chain was formed. After several attempts, the truck was reached. At any time during these operations, a slip would have meant almost certain death by drowning. On the first attempt to pull the truck out of the river, the single cable broke. Two more cables and a rope were attached to the truck before it was finally pulled from the river. During the six hours duration of the rescue operation the level of the water had risen approximately five feet. His prompt and determined actions in the face of great danger, undoubtedly saved the lives of five men. Sergeant Karamanos' heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.
Department of the Arm y
General Orders No. 49 - June 9, 1953
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Private First Class Larry L. Keith, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Battery C, 718th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, in the vicinity of Fort Funston, California on 26 February 1953. A deep sea fishing boat Muskie of San Francisco ran aground on a sand bar approximately 150 yards off shore with four civilian men aboard. Two men gained shore, injuring themselves in the process, and approached the area for Battery C for aid for the other two men. Upon a request for volunteers by the battery commander to attempt a rescue, Private Keith unhesitatingly volunteered and immediately went on foot to the scene of the accident approximately 1 mile away. By this time, high winds and heavy breakers were breaking up the boat. The two men remaining with the boat, because of injuries, cold, dangerous undertow, and heavy seas, were clinging to the wreckage. Private Keith, with complete disregard for his safety, waded into the sea toward the boat and aided in the recovery of one of the injured civilians who was washed overboard by a huge breaker. He then again entered the water and aided in bringing the second injured men to shore. The heroism displayed by Private Keith reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 35 - May 13, 1954
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant First Class Billy E. Kellar, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 2141st Army Service Unit, Fort Ritchie, Maryland, near Pennersvill, Pennsylvania, on 23 January 1954. When the frame house in which he and two other families resided caught fire, with disregard for his personal safety and despite the flames and dense smoke, he made desperate attempts to rescue the children of one of the occupants who were trapped in the fire. Each attempt was thwarted by the intensity of the blaze and the blinding, suffocating smoke which prohibited him from successful completion of his mission. Again Sergeant Keller attempted the rescue by climbing to the second story of the house on an outside drain trough, but was unsuccessful when the trough gave way and he fell to the ground. Then, learning that his wife had reentered the building to save personal property, he encouraged her to jump from the second story and he broke her fall with his body. Sergeant Keller's prompt, determined actions and heroism reflect great credit on himself and the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 92 - December 7, 1953
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pride in presenting the Soldier's Medal (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Signal Corps) Keith R. Kerr, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of the 833d Signal Service Company, at Bas Samois, France, on 14 July 1953. After being involved in a collision in which one of the vehicles plunged down a precipitous embankment into the Seine River, he observed that the driver was trapped in the rapidly sinking vehicle and dire distress. Unhesitatingly, he pushed his way through heavy undergrowth covering the steep slope and jumped fully clothed into the swift and polluted water of the Seine River which was particularly turbulent at that point, in a heroic effort to extricate the man from the car. While calling words of encouragement as he swam in the darkness to the rescue of the helpless man, and guided only by his screams for help, Lieutenant Kerr was either stricken by a cramp or exhausted by his valiant efforts when he disappeared from sight and drowned. Lieutenant Kerr's prompt and courageous action, with complete disregard for his personal safety, and self-sacrifice in his valiant attempt to save a human life reflect the highest credit on himself and the military service.
Department of the Army
General Orders No. 59 - August 4, 1953
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant First Class Lonnie R. Kiefer, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy as a member of Tank Company (Medium), 29th Infantry Regiment, in Okinawa on 6 January 1953. He was at the scene of an accident in which a truck had overturned and pinned the driver under the cab of the vehicle, with his head protruding from under the cab and immersed in a stream of water. Having no tools to work with and disregarding his personal safety while constantly in danger of being trapped between the truck and the road embankment, Sergeant Kiefer dug underneath the truck with his bare hands and succeeded in holding the driver's head above water, until the driver was safely removed. Sergeant Kiefer's prompt and courageous action undoubtedly saved the life of the driver and reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, 3d Infantry Division
General Orders No. 42 - January 26, 1952
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Captain (Chaplain's Corps), [then First Lieutenant] John E. Kinchla (ASN: 0-986643), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States while serving as Chaplain with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 3d Infantry Division. On 6 July 1951, near Kumhwa, Korea, Chaplain Kinchla was accompanying a friendly force to administer proximate aid to wounded in case of need, when a vehicle in the unit struck an enemy mine, demolishing it and pinning the driver helplessly beneath the flaming wreckage. Immediately and with no thought for his personal safety, Chaplain Kinchla dashed through the mined area and made repeated attempts to pull the unconscious soldier from the conflagration, despite the rocking explosions of the gas tank and other combustibles. The selfless heroism displayed by Chaplain Kinchla reflects high credit upon himself and the military service.
Headquarters, US Air Force
General Orders No. 275 - 14 June 1951
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant John C. Kmiec, United States Air Force, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States on 29 March 1951, as a Flight Engineer for a C-119 aircraft which crash-landed near Hongchon, Korea. Realizing that a crash-landing was imminent, Sergeant Kmiec, with complete disregard for his own safety, remained in the cargo compartment of the aircraft attempting to jettison the cargo of highly inflammable drums of gasoline. He persisted in his efforts until the aircraft landed and burst into flames. Although he was injured and in a state of shock, he noticed that the pilots were lying dangerously close to the burning aircraft and that the radio operator was trapped beneath a section of the aircraft's flooring. Realizing the danger confronting his fellow crew members, Sergeant Kmiec first removed the radio operator and then, with the aid of friendly Koreans, carried the pilots away from the fiercely burning aircraft and exploding drums of gasoline. Through this heroic action he saved the li8ves of the radio operator and the co-pilot. Sergeant Kmiec's courageous performance was in keepi9ng with the highest traditions of the service and reflected the highest credit upon himself and the military service great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.
Headquarters, 2nd Infantry Division
General Orders No. 341 - 26 September 1952
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal to Sergeant Albert T. Knox (ASN: US-52155591), United States Army, for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy of the United States as a member of Tank Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, in action at Pammol, North Korea on the night of 28 - 29 July 1952. At about 2230 hours, 28 July 1952, five soldiers, occupants of a 2½ ton truck, had mistakenly taken a ford through the Yong-pyong River which was closed to vehicular traffic due to flood conditions. An emergency call was sounded for a tank with a volunteer crew and Sergeant Knox volunteered immediately. Sergeant Knox and four other men volunteered to form a human chain in the river in an effort to reach the truck. After several unsuccessful attempts, during which a slip would have been fatal, contact was made. The first attempt to pull the truck out failed because the strain on the single cable was too great, so two more tow cables and a rope were carried to the truck before it was pulled from the river. His prompt and determined actions in the face of great danger saved the lives of five men. The heroic actions of Sergeant Knox reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.
2 Lt. Kyle, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon had been pinned down by intense fire, he completely exposed himself to move among and encourage his men to continue the advance against enemy forces strongly entrenched on Hill 185. Inspired by his courageous leadership, the platoon resumed the advance but was again pinned down when an enemy machine gun opened fire, wounding 6 of the men. 2d Lt. Kyle immediately charged the hostile emplacement alone, engaged the crew in hand-to-hand combat, killing all 3. Continuing on toward the objective, his platoon suddenly received an intense automatic-weapons fire from a well-concealed hostile position on its right flank. Again leading his men in a daring bayonet charge against this position, firing his carbine and throwing grenades, 2d Lt. Kyle personally destroyed 4 of the enemy before he was killed by a burst from an enemy submachine gun. The extraordinary heroism and outstanding leadership of 2d Lt. Kyle, and his gallant self-sacrifice, reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.