Homer E. Sanderford

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Homer E. Sanderford, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Corporal Sanderford distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Taegu, Korea, on 21 September 1950. Corporal Sanderford’s company was engaged in an attack in an attempt to seize vital high ground and encountered heavy enemy machine-gun and automatic-weapons fire and was pinned down. Despite the heavy volume of enemy fire and with an additional hazard form overhead supporting fire from friendly troops, he voluntarily and without regard for his own personal safety, rose to his feet and began to advance aggressively on the enemy. When he made his way about 150 yards, he began to throw grenades at the enemy, continuing this until he exhausted his supply. He then commenced firing on the enemy with his rifle until he also exhausted his ammunition. Withdrawing and replenishing his supplies four times, he repeatedly and heroically assaulted the enemy position. When his comrades, inspired by his fearlessness and enabled by the confusion caused in the enemy ranks, overran the enemy position a total of seventeen enemy dead were counted in the area of his single- handed assaults.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 79 (February 17, 1951)