John T. Monaghan
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 603 (August 1, 1951) | General Orders No. 603 (August 1, 1951)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John T. Monaghan, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Captain Monaghan distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Taejon-ni, Korea, on 24 April 1951. On that date, Captain Monaghan’s company, occupying defensive positions, was suddenly attacked and encircled by an overwhelming enemy force. Despite the heavy volume of fire pouring into the area, Captain Monaghan constantly moved about the perimeter, encouraging his men and supplementing their fire with his own weapons. When an enemy machine-gun began to fire at the position from a distance no greater than forty yards, he single-handedly rushed the emplacement in the face of the intense fire and destroyed it with grenade and rifle fire. Given permission to move his men at his own discretion, Captain Monaghan then ordered all platoons to prepare to withdraw and, keeping complete control of the unit, led them to safety through the surrounding enemy’s lines.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 603 (August 1, 1951)
