From Medal of Honor Citations for the Korean War:
*McGOVERN, ROBERT M.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army,
Company A, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Place and date: Near
Kamyangjan-ni, Korea, 30 January 1951. Entered service at: Washington, D.C.
Birth: Washington, D.C. G.O. No.: 2, 8 January 1952. Citation: 1st Lt. McGovern,
a member of Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action
against an armed enemy of the United Nations. As 1st Lt. McGovern led his
platoon up a slope to engage hostile troops emplaced in bunker-type pillboxes
with connecting trenches, the unit came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire
from the crest of the hill, approximately 75 yards distant. Despite a wound
sustained in this initial burst of withering fire, 1st Lt. McGovern, assured the
men of his ability to continue on and urged them forward. Forging up the rocky
incline, he fearlessly led the platoon to within several yards of its objective
when the ruthless foe threw and rolled a vicious barrage of handgrenades on the
group and halted the advance. Enemy fire increased in volume and intensity and
1st Lt. McGovern realizing that casualties were rapidly increasing and the
morale of his men badly shaken, hurled back several grenades before they
exploded. Then, disregarding his painful wound and weakened condition he charged
a machine gun emplacement which was raking his position with flanking fire. When
he was within 10 yards of the position a burst of fire ripped the carbine from
his hands, but, undaunted, he continued his lone-man assault and, firing his
pistol and throwing grenades, killed 7 hostile soldiers before falling mortally
wounded in front of the gun he had silenced. 1st Lt. McGovern's incredible
display of valor imbued his men with indomitable resolution to avenge his death.
Fixing bayonets and throwing grenades, they charged with such ferocity that
hostile positions were overrun and the enemy routed from the hill. The
inspirational leadership, unflinching courage, and intrepid actions of 1st Lt.
McGovern reflected utmost glory on himself and the honored tradition of the
military services.
Robert McGovern rests today at Arlington National Cemetery, along side his younger brother Jerome who was killed in action in Korea less than two weeks later.
First Lieutenant McGovern's Korean War unit, 1st Battalion/5th Cavalry, today fights for and defends liberty as part of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
No comments:
Post a Comment
COMMENTS ARE CLOSED. NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS WILL BE POSTED HERE. IF YOU WISH TO COMMENT, PLEASE GO TO THE NEW BLOG SITE – http://theirfinesthour.net – AND LEAVE YOUR FEEDBACK THERE!!!
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.