Buster Shell

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Buster Shell (RA14323453), Private 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 L, 3d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class Shell distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Hukkyo- ri, Korea, on 18 October 1950. An infantry company, attacking the high ground along the main highway leading into the North Korean capitol of Pyongyang, was halted by a heavy concentration of flat trajectory fire from concealed enemy positions. This enemy fire was becoming increasingly effective, and every effort was being made to find the source. Private Shell suddenly shouted that he had discovered the location and that the fire was from two enemy tanks. Disregarding his own safety, he voluntarily moved forward, armed only with a loaded rocket launcher, into the enemy fire to within fifty yards of the first enemy tank and destroyed it with his only rocket. He then returned to his original position, reloaded his launcher, and fearlessly moved up until he was within point-blank range of the second tank, and then destroyed it. His extreme courage and outstanding devotion to duty at great risk to his own life broke up an enemy roadblock and enabled his company continue their attack on Pyongyang.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 204 (December 20, 1950)