TFH 6/25: Second Lieutenant Charles G. Little, USMC

Sixty years ago on June 24-25, 1952, a young United States Marine Corps rifle platoon leader with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division placed himself at the front of his Marines and refused care for his own wounds until a determined enemy attack by a much larger force was pushed back, including repelling an assault that resulted in hand-to-hand combat.

I couldn't find much about Second Lieutenant Charles G. Little, other than the Navy Cross citation that so clearly recounts his great courage and brave service to the Marine Corps and our nation.


From Military Times' Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Charles G. Little (MCSN: 0-53704), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Leader of a Rifle Platoon of Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 24 - 25 June 1952. When the enemy attacked in battalion strength while his platoon was defending a combat outpost in advance of the main line of resistance, Second Lieutenant Little bravely exposed himself to intense hostile artillery, mortar and small-arms fire to call in accurate artillery fire on the attackers, and personally killed all the enemy attempting to infiltrate into a bunker housing his wounded men. Concerned only with the welfare of the casualties and the reorganization of his small force of Marines, he constantly moved from one position to another to encourage the men during a brief lull in the sharp hand-to-hand fighting. Throughout a second assault by the hostile force, he gallantly remained on guard to prevent the attackers from infiltrating into the bunker containing the stricken men, again killed all the enemy attempting to reach and casualties, and called in accurate artillery fire which was greatly instrumental in repelling the assault. Although wounded during the fierce hand-to-hand encounter, he refused to accept medical aid until all the casualties had been treated. By his outstanding courage, superb leadership and selfless efforts in behalf of his wounded men in the face of overwhelming odds, Second Lieutenant Little served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

I couldn't find a matching obituary or a record on the Department of Veterans Affairs Grave Locator, so it is possible that Little is still alive.

2nd Battalion, 5th Marines is still part of the 1st Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. They are currently deployed to Afghanistan as part of Regimental Combat Team 6, Task Force Leatherneck.