Dewitt T. Colvin

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to DeWitt T. Colvin (RA14293669), Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Corporal Colvin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Pyoru, Korea, on 14 October 1951. When the advance of his unit was stopped before a strong enemy position and his platoon leader became a casualty, he assumed command of the platoon, reorganized it, and led it in a renewed assault, effectively employing his own automatic rifle to destroy a number of the enemy. Observing that fire from an enemy bunker was again delaying the platoon’s advance, he crawled toward the position and silenced it with grenades, killing the six occupants. Continuing the advance with his platoon, although now severely wounded, he repeatedly urged his men forward, employing grenade and automatic-rifle fire to inflict more casualties upon the opposing force until he collapsed form his wounds. Observers estimated that by effective employment of his weapons he alone accounted for more than thirty enemy casualties.