TFH 5/29: PFC Whitt L. Moreland, USMCR

Whitt Lloyd Moreland was born on March 7, 1930 in Waco, Texas. He grew up in Austin, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve for a six year stint in September 1948. The outbreak of the Korean War saw him called to active service with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and the 1st Marine Division.

On this day in 1951, Private First Class Moreland courageously and calmly prevented numerous enemy grenades from exploding amongst his comrades. The final one took his life, and a grateful nation decorated him with its highest honor.


From Medal of Honor Citations for the Korean War:


*MORELAND, WHITT L.


Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Kwagch'i-Dong, Korea, 29 May 1951. Entered service at: Austin, Tex. Born: 7 March 1930, Waco, Tex. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an intelligence scout attached to Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Voluntarily accompanying a rifle platoon in a daring assault against a strongly defended enemy hill position, Pfc. Moreland delivered accurate rifle fire on the hostile emplacement and thereby aided materially in seizing the objective. After the position had been secured, he unhesitatingly led a party forward to neutralize an enemy bunker which he had observed some 400 meters beyond, and moving boldly through a fire-swept area, Almost reached the hostile emplacement when the enemy launched a volley of handgrenades on his group. Quick to act despite the personal danger involved, he kicked several of the grenades off the ridge line where they exploded harmlessly and, while attempting to kick away another, slipped and fell near the deadly missile. Aware that the sputtering grenade would explode before he could regain his feet and dispose of it, he shouted a warning to his comrades, covered the missile with his body and absorbed the full blast of the explosion, but in saving his companions from possible injury or death, was mortally wounded. His heroic initiative and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Pfc. Moreland and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Moreland rests in peace at Whittington Cemetery in Mount Ida, Arkansas. 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment is still part of the 1st Marine Division and is home based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.