James W. Dooley

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to James W. Dooley, Sergeant, 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, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Sergeant Dooley distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Sagimak, Korea, on 9 June 1953. On that date, Sergeant Dooley was a member of an assault party which closed in hand-to-hand combat with a hostile force defending a strategic hill. During the action, Sergeant Dooley continually exposed himself to heavy fire at the entrances to caves sheltering enemy troops to hurl grenades which inflicted numerous casualties and neutralized enemy fire. When six hostile soldiers charged from their bunker into the United Nations ranks, Sergeant Dooley exposed himself and killed all members of the group with automatic rifle fire. Informed that a comrade had been wounded on the upper slope of the hill, Sergeant Dooley climbed the steep slope under the enemy barrage. As he arrived at the wounded man’s side, an enemy grenade landed close to the wounded man. Disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, Sergeant Dooley threw himself on top of his wounded comrade to protect him from grenade fragments. In so doing, Sergeant Dooley sustained painful wounds on the arms and hands. Then, with the aid of covering fire from other members of the patrol, Sergeant Dooley, under direct enemy observation, carried the wounded man back down the hill to safety.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 767 (August 19, 1953)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to James W. Dooley (US55225201), Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On the afternoon of 9 June 1953, Sergeant Dooley was a member of the assault element of a patrol which closed with the enemy in an attack on Hill 412 in the vicinity of Sagimak, Korea. Sergeant Dooley exposed himself to hostile fire at the apertures of enemy occupied caves on the hill to hurl grenades which inflicted numerous casualties and neutralized the hostile fire. As six enemy soldiers charged from their bunker in an assault, he exposed himself to their fire and mortally wounded the soldiers. When a comrade fell seriously wounded on the upper slope of the hill, he immediately made his way up the steep face of the slope under intense enemy fire. Upon arriving beside the wounded comrade, the enemy hurled a grenade in the area. Sergeant Dooley threw himself on top of the wounded man to afford him protection. As a result of this action, Sergeant Dooley suffered wounds. With the protection of covering fire from the other members of the patrol, he then made the descent, carrying the casualty under full enemy observation and fire and returned the man to safety. The patrol then effected a successful retrograde movement to friendly lines. Sergeant Dooley’s outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.