John L. Thornton

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John L. Thornton (US55084926), 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 an Infantry Company of the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. Private First Class Thornton distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Songnae-dong, Korea, on 6 November 1952. On that date, Private Thornton was in a friendly position which was assaulted by an enemy force of estimated company strength. Unable to use machine-guns because of the route taken by the attacking forces, Private Thornton was advised to withdraw; however, realizing that he and his men were the only friendly troops remaining in the sector, he elected to hold his position. He organized a three-man perimeter defense and moved to the open ground in front of the position, bringing heavy and accurate rifle fire to bear on the enemy. When the hostile forces attacked with grenades, Private Thornton caught two of them in mid-air and hurled them back at the assailants; a third grenade exploded in his hand, blinding and partially paralyzing him. In spite of his condition, Private Thornton seized an enemy soldier who had closed with him and after a desperate struggle, hurled him down a hill. He then held his position until a friendly counterattacking force arrived and successfully repulsed the enemy.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 370 (April 8, 1953)