Wilmot H. Wolf

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Wilmot H. Wolf (432200), Technical Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as an Assistant Patrol Leader in Company H, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 24 November 1952. When the reinforcing element he was leading approached a patrol which was surrounded by the enemy and had sustained numerous casualties, Technical Sergeant Wolf voluntarily crawled forward alone in the face of intense hostile fire to render aid and encouragement to the beleaguered Marines. After assisting the critically wounded patrol leader in rallying his unit, he crept back to his own group with one of the seriously wounded men on his back. Subsequently returning to the besieged unit with a fire team, Technical Sergeant Wolf quickly established a defense and began the evacuation of eleven wounded men to a comparatively safe position in the center of the perimeter. With two Marines still unaccounted for, he moved forward with a comrade to search the area and, surprising one of the enemy in the act of removing a deceased Marine, opened fire and killed him. Continuing his search until he found the other missing Marine, he carried the bodies back to the center of the perimeter and assisted in the evacuation of the patrol and its equipment from the area. By his outstanding courage, inspiring leadership and selfless efforts in behalf of others, Technical Sergeant Wolf was greatly responsible for saving the lives of several Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.