Elmer E. Burkholder

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Elmer E. Burkholder (RA15104213), Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Sergeant Burkholder distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Taejon, Korea, on 20 July 1950. When Headquarters and Headquarters Company, with attached units, attempted to run a roadblock set up by the North Koreans, the driver for the Company Commander was killed and the First Sergeant was wounded. Sergeant Burkholder volunteered to drive his commanding officer, First Sergeant and a regimental chaplain through the blockade. Almost immediately after starting the run Sergeant Burkholder was wounded in the face and chest by shrapnel from a grenade. He continued to drive until his vehicle was knocked out by enemy fire and he was forced to take cover. A prime mover stopped nearby to remove some vehicles that were blocking his way and upon seeing this, Sergeant Burkholder carried his First Sergeant, who had a broken leg, approximately forty yards through intense small arms and automatic weapons fire to the prime mover, which moved them to a safe position.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 23 (August 11, 1950)