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Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 39 - 31 July 1957
Sergeant First Class Librado P. Sanchez, Army Medical Service, United States Army, Chief Technician, Aid Station, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, distinguished himself by heroism near Ou-Dong, Korea, on 4 November 1956. Upon learning that a fellow soldier had stepped on an anti-personnel mine and lay injured in an uncharted minefield, Sergeant Sanchez immediately proceeded to the scene of the accident. Despite the lack of a safe lane or mine detector, he courageously entered the hazardous area, made his precarious way to the suffering man and stemmed profuse bleeding by means of a tourniquet. After administering emergency first aid, he assisted in evacuating the helpless man by litter to an awaiting ambulance for removal to a collecting station for further treatment. Sergeant Sanchez' quick thinking and valorous actions resulted in the saving of a comrade's life, reflecting utmost credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 18 - 18 April 1967
Captain Robert B. Sarajian, 05292298, Medical Corps, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism at Camp Young, Korea on 23 December 1966 while serving as Battalion Surgeon, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division. On this date he was on duty at the Camp Young Dispensary, when upon hearing a commotion outside, he left the dispensary to investigate. He observed a crowd of personnel around a telephone pole and a ladder leading up to a platform which was affixed to the telephone wires and the pole. There were two soldiers on the platform, one of them lying flat on the platform with his feet entangled in the high tension wires and apparently seriously injured. Thinking only of rendering medical assistance and with complete disregard of his own safety, Captain Sarajian proceeded to climb the swaying ladder. Upon reaching the platform, he discovered that the man had been accidentally electrocuted and had no pulse. He then administered cardiac resuscitation and managed to carry the soldier to the ground where he performed artificial respiration and transferred him to the dispensary. His quick thinking and prompt action enabled him to save the life of the injured soldier. Captain Sarajian's gallantry and heroic action in the face of danger is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 2d Infantry Division, and the United States Army. (This award supersedes award of the Army Commendation Medal for heroism on 23 December 1966, as announced in General Orders Number 21, Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, dated 1 February 1967.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 43 - 27 September 1963
Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Scanella, United States Army, while a member of Company A, 8th Engineer Battalion (Construction), 1st Cavalry Division, Eighth United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on 6 March 1963, in Korea. Sergeant Scanella unhesitatingly volunteered to transverse a mine field to rescue a soldier who was seriously wounded by a mine explosion. During more than one hour of extremely hazardous efforts in clearing a lane to the injured soldier, Sergeant Scanella and his comrades located and disarmed numerous mines. When he and the other members of the rescue party had advanced to within approximately twenty meters of the injured soldier, a helicopter lowered a sling in an attempt to airlift him from the dangerous area. Observing that the soldier was too weak to tie himself securing to the sling and was in danger of falling or rolling onto other mines, Sergeant Scanella, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, rushed through the remaining distance of the un-cleared mine field, and assisted him into the sling. Sergeant Scanella's heroic action, devotion to duty, and deep concern for a fellow soldier are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself and the United States Army. (This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Sergeant Scanella for heroism on 6 March 1963, in Korea, as announced in General Orders Number 84, Headquarters, Eighth United States Army, dated 15 May 1963.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 49 - 18 September 1957
First Lieutenant John R. Scarborough, Infantry, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on 22 February 1957, near Seoul, Korea. When the C-124 "Globemaster" on which he was a passenger developed engine trouble resulting in a crash-landing in the Han River, approximately 25 miles northwest of Seoul, Lieutenant Scarborough despite sustaining several burns during landing, immediately began assisting survivors. Upon being advised of the extent of the burns which he could not see, and being further advised to seek medical treatment, Lieutenant Scarborough ignored the advice and continued to assist survivors who were helpless in the vicinity of the burning aircraft. Ignoring the danger of imminent explosion, Lieutenant Scarborough personally carried three victims to safety, and directed others to assist in carrying others. When the engine did explode, covering the aircraft and immediate vicinity with fire so that nothing further could be done, Lieutenant Scarborough proceeded to supervise the evacuation of survivors by helicopter. Despite the severity of his burns, Lieutenant Scarborough refused evacuation until all other injured, many with lesser injuries, were evacuated. Throughout the emergency he ignored personal hazard and danger to his own life by approaching the burning aircraft to evacuate helpless survivors. His aggressive action, sound judgment, and personal bravery were an inspiration to fellow passengers and undoubtedly saved lives that would otherwise have been lost. The heroism displayed by Lieutenant Scarborough on this occasion reflects great credit on himself and the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 10 - 21 March 1956
Private First Class David E. Sligh, Jr., United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism near Camp Saint Barbara, Korea, on 31 July 1955. Plunging from a cable supporting a pontoon bridge into the torrential, rain-swollen Young P'yung Chun River, a Korean soldier clung to an anchor line in a desperate attempt to keep afloat, but appeared too weak to put on the life preserver thrown to him by means of a guy line. Observing that the struggling man was near exhaustion and beginning to panic, Private Sligh volunteered to go to his aid before the swift current swept him downstream. After donning a life preserver he was lowered into the swirling, turbulent water by a wire tied to his belt. He edged toward the floundering man, and succeeded in securing him with the wire. When the men on the bridge attempted to pull both men upstream, the tremendous pressure snapped Private Sligh's belt buckle, leaving him stranded with the helpless soldier. Although Private Sligh's own strength was waning fast, he gallantly held the man's head above water and clung to the anchor line for more than 30 minutes until his comrades could obtain and toss him a rope to effect the rescue. Private Sligh's valorous conduct and intrepid actions were instrumental in saving the life of the Korean soldier, reflecting utmost credit on himself and upholding the honored traditions of the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 15 - 28 April 1965
Specialist Four James W. Smith, Army Medical Service, (then Private First Class), United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism while serving as a member of Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, on 2 April 1964, near the Demilitarized Zone, Korea. When notified that a soldier had been injured by a mine, Specialist Smith unhesitatingly proceeded to the minefield to participate in the medical evacuation of the wounded man. Upon arriving at the scene, he left his litter jeep at the fence, bravely traversed the live minefield, and reached the injured man who was located approximately fifty feet inside the mined area. With the assistance of another medical man on the scene, he helped place the injured soldier on the litter, made his way through the uncleared minefield, and succeeded in carrying the wounded man to the litter jeep for transportation to the dispensary. Specialist Smith's deep concern for a fellow soldier and heroic actions under these hazardous circumstances are in the highest traditions of the service. (This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Specialist Smith for heroism on 2 April 1964 as announced in General Orders Number 101, Headquarters 1st Cavalry division, dated 30 July 1964.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 2 - 12 January 1966
Specialist Five John H. Smith, (then Private First class), United States Army, while serving as a member of Company C, 7th Medical Battalion, United States Forces, distinguished himself by heroism on 10 January 1965, in Korea. Specialist Smith unhesitatingly volunteered to participate in a rescue mission when he learned that a fellow soldier had accidentally stepped on a live mine, was seriously wounded, and trapped in the minefield. When the injured man was unable to hold on to a rope extended by an evacuation helicopter hovering over the minefield, Specialist Smith, followed by two soldiers carrying a stretcher, proceeded down a bank of a creek to get as close as possible to the victim. After placing the stretcher on the bank and crawling to the end of it, he was still 6 feet away from the wounded man. Then, with complete disregard for his own safety, he bravely maneuvered himself through the hazardous remaining distance, reached the wounded soldier, and carried him back to the stretcher. With the assistance of other personnel on the scene, he then carried the wounded soldier to the landing site of the evacuation helicopter. Specialist Smith's heroic conduct, ingenuity, and deep concern for a fellow soldier are in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. (This award supersedes the award of the Army Commendation Medal to Specialist Smith for meritorious achievement on 10 January 1965 as announced in General Orders Number 20, Headquarters, 7th Infantry Division, APO San Francisco, 96207, dated 17 February 1965.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 52 - 18 December 1963
Sergeant First Class Rudolph P. Smith, United States Army, a member of Headquarters Company, Eighth United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism in Korea, on 13 June 1963. While in the kitchen of Headquarters Company of the Eighth United States Army Consolidated Mess, Sergeant Smith witnessed the probable electrocution of a Korean electrician who became trapped by a short circuit in the main electrical switch box. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sergeant Smith unhesitatingly lunged at the electrician, grabbed him about the waist, and threw him to the floor, successfully freeing the man from the lethal current in which he was ensnared. In the process of his swift and courageous action, Sergeant Smith's arm was singed and his clothing burned. His prompt and heroic action in this emergency is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military service. (This award supersedes award of the Army Commendation Medal for outstanding courage on 13 June 1963 as announced in General Orders Number 163, Headquarters, Eighth United States Army, dated 26 August 1963.)
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 49 - 18 September 1957
Private First class Carey W. Spencer, Infantry, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on the night of 22 February 1957, in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea, when the C-124 aircraft on which he was a passenger developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff and crash-landed on a sandbar in the Han River, bursting into flames on impact. After reaching safety through an escape exit, with complete disregard for his own life, Private Spencer volunteered to return to the burning plane to rescue those trapped in or near it. Despite a raging fire and the threat of explosions from the airplane's fuel tanks, Private Spencer helped carry two badly injured men to safety and then entered the aircraft to look for other survivors. He later saw a man swimming in the icy waters of the river and with the help of others, succeeded in getting the man out and to the warmth of a fire which had been built. Private Spencer refused to quit his rescue work until he was satisfied that all survivors of the flight were safe. His actions reflect the highest traditions of the United States Army.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 24 - 10 July 1958
Private First Class Robert A. Spriggs, Signal Corps, United States Army, a member of Company C, 51st Signal Battalion (Corps) distinguished himself by heroism on 9 May 1958. While on the bank of Han Tan River in Korea, Private Spriggs saw his comrade, a Republic of Korea soldier, who was laundering clothing, wade out into the water to retrieve some clothing which had been caught in the current. The Republic of Korea soldier stepped from an underwater ledge into deep water and, unable to swim, began to flounder and call for help. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Private Spriggs unclothed, entered the water and swamp out to aid the helpless man. As Private Spriggs approached to render assistance, the victim panicked, overpowered Private Spriggs to the extent that he could not break the man's grip, and both men drowned. In the performance of this brave action in an attempt to rescue his fellow-man, Private Spriggs displayed a rare courage and spirit of self-sacrifice which reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.
Sergeant First Class Wesley G. Stapleton, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as a member of the Engineer Fire Fighting Company, 8075th Army Unit, in Korea, from 27 January 1953 to 4 May 1954. Serving as Fire Chief of the city of Pusan, Sergeant Stapleton demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency and outstanding initiative in establishing adequate military fire-protection measures in highly strategic and extremely vulnerable areas in the United Nations' logistical chain of supply, successfully reducing the acute danger of their destruction by fire through possible enemy action. He skillfully organized, trained and operated the fire-fighting services under his control, proffered sound recommendations and technical guidance to the 3001st. Republic of Korea Army Engineer Firefighting Platoon, trained and utilized indigenous personnel in this important field of public safety and conducted a relentless campaign to establish high standards of fire prevention and protection throughout the teeming port city of Pusan. Despite obstacles imposed by extremely congested areas, lack of fire breaks, an inadequate water supply system and numerous routes in assessable to fire fighting equipment, his actions in directing fire-fighting operations during the Great Pusan Fire of 27 November 1953 and the devastating fires of 29 January 1954 and 3 April 1954 reach heroic portions and resulted in the saving of hundreds of lives and millions of dollars worth of military and civilian property. Sergeant Stapleton's forceful leadership, selfless devotion to duty and demonstrated courage were significant contributions to the United Nations' first armed bid for world peace. His exemplary accomplishments reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.
Headquarters, Department of the Army
General Orders No. 39 - 31 July 1957
Second Lieutenant Charles D. Summers, Ordnance Corps, United States Army, distinguished himself by heroism on 2 August 1956, at Pusan, Korea. When Lieutenant Summers received word at the Detachment that a group of people were in distress on a point of land at Heunde Beach, Pusan, Korea, he promptly proceeded to the scene with other personnel from his unit and found that a huge wave in the wake of a typhoon had washed several persons into the sea and they were being drowned by the raging surf. Lieutenant Summers, without regard for his own personal safety, attempted to swim to one of the drowning victims, but was forced back by the high waves. Risking his own life, he exhibited every possible effort to complete the rescue. Lieutenant Summers' heroic actions and ability to assume command in an emergency situation reflect the highest credit on himself and the United States Army.