TFH 4/22: PFC Herbert A. Littleton, USMCR

Herbert A. Littleton was born on July 1, 1930 in Mena, Arkansas. As a child, his family moved to Sturgis, South Dakota. After graduating from the local high school in 1948, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and spent one year on active duty.

After leaving active service, Littleton moved to Nampe, ID to join his family who had relocated from South Dakota. He found work as a lineman with Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph (Mountain Bell). With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, he volunteered to return to active service with the Marine Corps.

Littleton arrived in Korea in December 1950 and joined the 1st Marine Division's 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, known as "The First Team". 1/7 Marines' motto is "Pride, Devotion, Loyalty". On April 22, 1951 then Private First Class Littleton was on night guard duty when the Communist enemy launched an attack. When a grenade landed in his observation post, he knew there was only thing to do. His courage and self-sacrifice was recognized with our Nation's highest honor.


From Medal of Honor Citations for the Korean War:

*LITTLETON, HERBERT A.


Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Chungchon, Korea, 22 April 1951. Entered service at: Blackhawk, S. Dak. Born: 1 July 1930, Mena, Ark. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator with an artillery forward observation team of Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Standing watch when a well-concealed and numerically superior enemy force launched a violent night attack from nearby positions against his company, Pfc. Littleton quickly alerted the forward observation team and immediately moved into an advantageous position to assist in calling down artillery fire on the hostile force. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown into his vantage point shortly after the arrival of the remainder of the team, he unhesitatingly hurled himself on the deadly missile, absorbing its full, shattering impact in his body. By his prompt action and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, he saved the other members of his team from serious injury or death and enabled them to carry on the vital mission which culminated in the repulse of the hostile attack. His indomitable valor in the face of almost certain death reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Littleton and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Herbert Littleton, age 20 at his death, rests in peace at Kohlerlawn Cemetery in his adopted home of Nampa, Idaho. 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment still serves as part of the 1st Marine Division. Their home base is the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.