Harry J. Saunders

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Harry J. Saunders (RA14107701), Sergeant First Class, 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, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Saunders distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Chindong-ni, Korea, on 2 August 1950. Sergeant First Class Saunders was in charge of a group of men who had secured the line of departure for the 1st Battalion near Chindong-ni, Korea, and were returning in two vehicles through a mountain pass when they were subjected to concentrated hostile fire from commanding positions on their flanks. Dismounting the men, Sergeant Saunders deployed them to positions of relative safety and moved the vehicle out of the line of fire. Hen then made a rapid reconnaissance of the position to find an escape route for the group. In doing so he was wounded by enemy fire but continued his efforts. When the position became untenable, Sergeant Saunders, although wounded, loaded the men into one vehicle and placing himself in an exposed position, delivered devastating fire on the enemy until he was mortally wounded.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 169 (November 13, 1950)