James WELDON Riddle

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to James Weldon Riddle (RA15258471), Sergeant, 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, 5th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Sergeant Riddle distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Pangwa-dong, Korea, on 22 April 1951. Assigned the mission of attacking and securing Hill 834, Company B, advancing against the enemy, was suddenly subjected to intense and accurate small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. Although his men were pinned down by the heavy volume of fire, Sergeant Riddle exposed himself repeatedly in single-handedly rushing the hostile emplacements. One by one, he neutralized them with grenades and rifle fire, encouraging his men to follow him up the slope. At a point approximately 150 yards from the objective, he unhesitatingly charged the emplacement. Although seriously wounded, Sergeant Riddle managed to destroy both the weapon and its crew. Refusing medical aid, he gathered more grenades and assaulted another position, rendering it ineffective. With his ammunition expended, and weak from his wounds, he nevertheless organized his men and led them in the final assault against the objective which they successfully secured. During this action Sergeant Riddle was killed by a burst of enemy fire.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 650 (August 18, 1951)