Homer IRWIN May

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Homer Irwin May (RA37590089), Sergeant, 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, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Sergeant May distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chup’a-ri, Korea, Korea, on 1 September 1951. On that date, Sergeant May led the assault squad in an attack on Hill 851, which was stubbornly held by a determined enemy. The squad was suddenly subjected to intense hostile fire, forcing him to deploy his men to positions of cover. With complete disregard for his safety, he exposed himself to the withering enemy fire to better observe three heavily fortified bunkers. Armed with many grenades, he worked his way forward and completely destroyed one of the bunkers. After returning to his squad and obtaining anew supply of grenades, he again maneuvered forward and silenced another bunker. Sergeant May repeated this courageous performance until he had completely overcome the enemy’s resistance, thereby enabling the squad to safely advance and secure their objective. The next morning, after the friendly positions had been consolidated, a numerically superior enemy force launched a fierce counterattack, which forced the elements of Company L to withdraw. When the company was reorganized, Sergeant May was missing.