Waymond R. Ransom

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Waymond R. Ransom (RA16148573), Master 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, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Master Sergeant Ransom distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Yonchon, Korea, on 11 November 1950. On that date, the Regimental Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon, while moving by motor convoy in the vicinity of Yonchon, encountered deadly automatic-weapons fire from a large, well-concealed enemy force occupying commanding positions. Ordering his men to dismount and seek cover, Sergeant Ranson moved to an exposed position and advanced while delivering a steady stream of effective counterfire into the enemy strongpoint. Although wounded several times, he continued to move toward the hostile positions. When his supply of ammunition was exhausted, he engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until they overcame him and left him for dead. The outstanding courage, grim determination, and selfless devotion to duty of Sergeant Ranson enabled his comrades to withdraw with minimum casualties.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 295 (May 10, 1951)