Charles W. Sherwood

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Charles W. Sherwood (RA44137634), Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Corporal Sherwood distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chipyong-ni, Korea, during the period 13 through 15 February 1951. When his unit was attacked by a large enemy force during the night of 13 February 1951, Corporal Sherwood, although wounded by enemy small-arms fire, remained in his position and inflicted heavy casualties until his machine-gun was knocked out by hostile fire. The enemy closed to within twenty yards, but he coolly held them off with his pistol until another machine-gun could be brought up. A second attempt was made to overrun his position, but Corporal Sherwood, heedless of intense hostile fire, accounted for twenty-six enemy dead before this weapon was also knocked out. On the night of 15 February 1951, a reinforced enemy group made a final attempt to overrun the positions. Corporal Sherwood once more manned his gun and, despite intense hostile mortar, artillery, and small-arms fire, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy until he was mortally wounded.