In God We Trust
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Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 10 - 21 March 1956
Private Finley Bailiff, Medical Corps, United States Army, a member of Company "A", 73d Tank Battalion, for heroism on 18 September 1955, near Taejon-ni, Korea. While off duty, Private Bailiff learned that three American servicemen lay injured in a mine field, and quickly proceeded to the scene of the accident to assist in rescue operations. During the hours of darkness, and fully aware of the danger involved, Private Bailiff unhesitatingly probed through dense brush and over-hanging vegetation and, with the help of a comrade, evacuated one of the ill-fated soldiers to safety. After administering emergency treatment to the suffering man, Private Bailiff headed an aid team and, entering the mined area a second and third time, rescued the other two casualties. Then he carefully surveyed the hazardous area for an alleged fourth victim, and repeated his search the following day to insure that no one was left in the mine field. Private Bailiff's intrepidity and prompt, courageous actions reflect utmost credit on himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 38 - 18 September 1967
Captain Thomas F. Bair, 04027927, Military Police Corps, United States Army, who distinguished himself by heroism while serving as Security Officer of the United States Army Support Group, Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, Korea, on 22 March 1967. At the conclusion of the Military Armistice Commission meeting being held at Panmunjom, Korea, Mr. Su Kun Yi, Vice Chief of the official North Korean Central News Agency, entered a U.S. Army sedan seeking transportation to South Korea. Without thought fort his own safety, Captain Bair immediately ran to the assistance of Mr. Su Kun Yi, knocking two armed North Korean guards from the vehicle as they attempted to drag Mr. Su Kun Yi from the vehicle. Captain Bair's actions were instrumental in the successful flight of Mr. Su Kun Yi to asylum in the Republic of Korea. Captain Bair's heroic conduct is not only in the highest tradition of the United States Army and reflected great credit upon himself and the Military Service but greatly enhanced the image of his unit and the United Nations Command.
On September 1, 1999, Sgt. 1st Class Jeanne M. Balcombe, of the 1st Platoon, 55th Military Police Company, was posthumously awarded the Soldiers Medal for heroism in the face of danger. While on duty on August 21, 1999, Balcombe's quick thinking and selfless response safeguarded and protected others at the Troop Medical Clinic at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. She placed herself in harm's way between three soldiers and an armed gunman.
"Sergeant Jeanne Balcombe was shot and killed at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea, by one of her own soldiers. The suspect, who was drunk at the time, was upset that Sergeant Balcombe had ordered a blood test on one of the suspect's friends. He then overpowered a South Korean soldier stationed at the base and took his sidearm. He shot Sergeant Balcombe three times, including once in the head, before fleeing the base. He was captured later in the day by Korean National Police officers with the murder weapon still in his possession. The suspect was convicted of capital murder by General Court Martial and sentenced to life in prison. Sergeant Balcombe was a member of the 55th Military Police Company. She is survived by her husband and two daughters."
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 50 - 26 September 1968
Specialist four James K. Barker, RA12651355, United States Army, a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 23 Infantry (Mechanized), who, through a heroic effort that endangered his own life, was largely responsible for saving the life of a member of a scout platoon on 29 March 1968. The victim, having become stuck in the quicksand-like mud near the Imjin River, was soon engulfed in the rapidly rising tide of the river. When it became apparent that the man could not be pulled free by ordinary means, Specialist Barker, realizing he could himself become trapped in the mud, entered the water to the point where the man was rapidly sinking. Specialist Barkier remained with him for one and one-half hours, at times disappearing from sight in the rising tide, in an effort to keep the victim from going below the river's surface. Due largely to his efforts, he and the victim were eventually pulled from the deadly trap by a rescue helicopter. Specialist Barker's heroic effort served as an inspiration to more than a score of rescuers on the scene and brought great credit to himself and the military service. (This award supersedes the Army Commendation Medal awarded to Specialist Barker as announced in General Orders Number 89, Headquarters, Eighth United States Army, APO San Francisco 96301, dated 7 June 1968.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 38 - 18 September 1967
Airman First Class Harold J. Bass, AF11435379, United States Air Force, who distinguished himself by heroism on 9 February 1967. At approximately 1030 hours an Army Mohave CH37 helicopter crashed and burned at an ACWs site located at Yongmun-San, Korea. Without regard for his own safety Airman Bass immediately ran to the helicopter and freed the pilot, whose escape hatch jammed and couldn't be opened from the inside. After freeing the pilot, Airman Bass then moved to the side of the helicopter and, disregarding the flames from burning gasoline, assisted a passenger who was entangled in the wreckage. Only after he was assured that all personnel were evacuated did he leave the aircraft. He then proceeded to administer first aid to one of the crew members who was severely burned. Airman Bass' actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of bravery in the United States Army and bring great credit upon himself, his squadron, and the United States Air Force.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 16 - 10 April 1962
Second Lieutenant Daniel R. Bauer, O5007623, Armor, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on the night of 13 October 1961, in the vicinity of Moyre-Dong, Korea. When Lieutenant Bauer was informed that four members of his platoon on a routine night patrol mission were injured and trapped near a cluster of antitank and antipersonnel mines, he voluntarily and courageously participated in the hazardous rescue operations. In an outstanding display of exceptional initiative, resourcefulness, and quick thinking, he immediately obtained probing and marking equipment, organized lighting facilities, arranged for medical aid, and moved rapidly to the minefield site. He quickly moved all supporting personnel to a safe distance, and with total disregard for his own personal safety, bravely proceeded to probe a safe lane through seventy-five feet of the minefield to the position of his men. Despite the difficulties and danger imposed by darkness, thick ground cover of tangled vines, the necessity for probing each two or three inches in the minefield that contained M-15 antipersonnel mines, and the imminent danger of detonation, he advanced with great speed and without regard for his own life to reach his men rapidly. Cautiously probing the area of the mine explosion, he encountered three unexploded mines. Realizing he was in a mine cluster, he undauntedly continued working until he evacuated one unharmed man and one severely wounded, thereby saving his life. He then evacuated two of the men who died of wounds, and did not withdraw until all personnel were removed from the minefield. Lieutenant Bauer's unhesitating, efficient, and heroic action in the face of grave danger saved the lives of two of his men and reflects great credit on himself and the military service. (This award supersedes so much of General Orders Number 145, Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division, dated 9 November 1961, as pertains to the previous award of the Army Commendation Medal to Lieutenant Bauer for meritorious achievement on 13 October 1961.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 56 - 28 October 1957
Private First class Gerald J. Beall, Jr., RA19545748, United States Army, a truck driver for Company M, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, distinguished himself by heroism near Nullo-ri, Korea, on 22 October 1956. On learning that a Korean youth had been badly injured by the explosion of a land mine, Private Beall drove his vehicle to the scene of the accident. Fully aware of the danger involved and without benefit of a mine detector, he unhesitatingly entered the uncharted minefield and went to the rescue of the helpless man. With the help of two companions who followed him into the hazardous area, he evacuated the suffering man to the truck and took him to the battalion aid station for treatment. Private Beall's valorous actions were instrumental in saving the life of a young Korean, reflecting utmost credit on himself and upholding the traditions of the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 49 - 18 September 1957
Major Leonidas W. Best, Transportation Corps, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea, on the night of 22 February 1957. Major Best's detachment was one of a group of aviation units assigned the mission of rescuing survivors of a C-124 aircraft which crash-landed on a sandbar in the Han River Estuary. In a desperate race against the rapidly rising tide waters and a mounting danger to the survivors from continued exposure to the winter elements, he directed the evacuation flights of the helicopters under extremely hazardous conditions. With disregard to his own safety or comfort he worked in the ice filled river with the rising tide reaching his armpits, supervising the flights, loading the survivors, and directing search operations. Despite the hazards of the helicopter rotor blades, the swift current of the rising tide, and full awareness of the danger of hovering aircraft over head, Major Best resolutely and unhesitatingly performed his duty, thereby contributing immeasurably to the completely successful rescue mission. His unhesitating and courageous action in the face of grave danger coupled with complete disregard for his own safety, reflects great credit on himself, his unit, and the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 40 - 9 December 1965
Private First Class George A. Butler, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on 6 February 1965, while serving as a military policeman in Company B, 728th Military Police Battalion, Taejon, Korea. Private Butler was performing normal military traffic patrol when he saw a small Korean boy fall through the ice covering the Yuchon River. He stopped his vehicle, ran to the bank of the river and, with complete disregard for his own safety, began to crawl over the ice to the floundering child when the ice broke under his weight. Then, he forged his way toward the boy, breaking the ice with his forearms. Through his determination and great effort, he succeeded in reaching the boy and bringing him to the safety of the shore. After being assured that the child was feeling fine, he released him to a group of Korean adults who ha congregated at the scene. Private Butler's heroic conduct in this emergency is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.