Mehmet Ergin

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Mehmet Ergin, Sergeant, Turkish Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations in action against enemy forces at Sanggorangp’o, Korea on 28 and 29 May 1953. Sergeant Ergin’s unit was dispatched to reinforce Outpost Vegas, which was under heavy enemy attack. Upon arrival he found the strength of friendly forces depleted and the enemy holding a portion of the position. Organizing his forces, he led them through heavy artillery, mortar and small arms fire in a valiant counterattack which drove the enemy back several hundred meters. When the enemy launched a counterattack against the newly won positions, he successfully met the attack and stopped the enemy’s advance, forcing their withdrawal. With complete disregard for personal safety, he moved from one position to another encouraging his men despite heavy barrages of artillery and mortar fire. Later, using grenades and any weapon at his disposal, he led his unit forward again in counterattack, which succeeded in driving the enemy front the last friendly position under their control. His actions made it possible for friendly forces to regain control of a major outpost while inflicting numerous casualties on the enemy forces.
Department of the Army: General Orders No. 43 (June 24, 1955)