Louis “Lou” Joseph Sebille was born on November 21, 1915 in Harbor Beach, Michigan. He grew up in Harbor Beach and moved south to Detroit after graduating high school to attend Wayne State University. Sebille began his studies at Wayne State University in 1934, and in his time there he was a member of the drama club and Gamma Phi Delta Fraternity. After graduating from Wayne State University, Sebille moved to Chicago, Illinois and worked as an emcee in various Chicago nightclubs under the name “Lou Reynolds.”

Sebille enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet on December 19, 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sebille began his flight training as a cadet in January 1942, although being two months older than the age cutoff of 26, the desperation for pilots combined with his skills allowed him to waive the age restriction. He trained at Tulsa, Oklahoma, Perrin Field, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Sebille received his wings and got his commission as a second lieutenant in July 1942. Later that year, in September of 1942, Sebille married Elizabeth Jane Young, and they had a son in 1949.

His time as a second lieutenant kicked off at MacDill Field, Florida, where Sebille completed advanced training as a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber pilot. He was assigned to the 450^th Bombardment Squadron, 322^nd Bombardment Group, 3^rd Bombardment Wing. Sebille began his time in combat in January of 1943, flying bombing missions in the European theatre with the 322^nd Bombardment Group, the first unit to fly the B-26 Marauder. Their first mission as a unit was a low altitude attack on an electrical power plant in the Netherlands, which was under Nazi control. Soon after, Sebille advanced to flight leader and then was promoted to squadron operations officer, giving him the temporary rank of major. By the end of World War II, Sebille had flown 68 combat missions and had accrued 245 combat hours. For his service in World War II, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and twelve Air Medals before returning to the United States with his unit in March 1945.

After the close of World War II, Sebille left active duty with the Air Force and began to work as a commercial airline pilot. This civilian career did not last very long, as he made a return to the Air Force in July 1946 after being offered a commission as a first lieutenant. He held several positions, including as a staff officer with the Ninth United States Air Force headquarters at Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss, Texas. Soon after, Sebille was assigned as a P-51 Mustang and P-80 Shooting Star instructor pilot, teaching other pilots how to transition from conventional fighter aircraft to the newer jet powered models. He later attended Air Tactical School at Tyndall Field in Florida before being reassigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines in 1948.

While he was serving in the Philippines, Sebille was flying a P-51D named Nancy III. In the Philippines, he was promoted to major and made the commanding officer of the 67^th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18^th Fighter-Bomber Wing, a component of the Fifth United States Air Force stationed in Japan for post-World War II occupation. Around 1949, as his squadron was transitioning between various jets, Sebille began frequently discussing fighting and death, including sentiments supporting suicide or suicide attacks, at one point it was noted that he said, “If you have to die, then take some of the enemy with you.”

Leading up to the outbreak of the Korean War, Sebille was working in mostly administrative duty as his squadron absorbed new aircraft and pilots in Japan. When the war began on June 25, 1950, the United Nations voted to send troops into South Korea and Sebille’s unit was among those sent to assist the UN. Early in the war, various aircraft were used to conduct raids and gather intelligence on North Korean targets to disrupt supply to the front lines. On August 1, 1950, Sebille moved his squadron to Ashiya Airfield in Japan, where they began conducting missions in support of the ground forces in Korea. By August 5, just a few days later, Sebille had officially accrued over 3,000 hours of flying time throughout his career. His squadron was primarily based out of Ashiya, but they also used airfields at Taegu and Pusan in Korea.

On the night of August 4, 1950, the Battle of Pusan Perimeter began as North Korean troops began advancing across the Naktong River to attack Taegu, where the UN’s Eighth United States Army was headquartered to defend the perimeter. During the battle, Sebille was ordered to lead a flight of three F-51 planes on an airstrike against North Korean troops advancing through a small village. Sebille’s plane was loaded with two bombs that he planned to drop on his first attack, however when he hit the bomb release button, only one of the two was released.

As Sebille turned the plane to make a second run, he was struck by a North Korean counterattack, which heavily damaged his aircraft. Sebille intended to drop his second bomb, but his plane was trailing smoke and coolant. He radioed another pilot to inform him he had been hit, and the other pilot encouraged him to head for a US emergency landing strip in Taegu. Sebille responded to this suggestion saying, “No, I’ll never make it. I’m going back to get that bastard.”

Sebille flew his plane straight toward his target, firing six rockets on his way. Instead of pulling up to a safe distance above his target, Sebille continued to dive his plane and the remaining bomb straight into the target. His plane continued to sustain heavy damage, and he crashed directly into the North Korean convoy, completely destroying a large contingent of North Korean ground troops and vehicles but killing himself instantly.

After learning of Sebille’s death, commanders in Korea did not think very highly of his actions, considering it more or less a kamikaze action. Despite this, Lieutenant Donald Bolt, the squadron’s assistant awards officer, forwarded a citation of these events to Washington, D.C., where Sebille was then evaluated for the Medal of Honor. One month after his death, a short obituary for Sebille appeared in Time Magazine, and later the United States Air Force Academy created a memorial in Sebille’s honor in Harmon Hall, which serves as the academy’s administration building.

Lou Sebille was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on August 24, 1951, at March Air Force Base in Riverside County, California, just over a year after his death. The medal was presented to his wife and son, who was only 19 months old at the time, by Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg. Sebille was the first person in the U.S. Air Force to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the branch had been created in 1947, he was also the 31^st Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War. There were three other Air Force members who received the medal in the Korean War, all of whom were pilots killed in action. These four men, including Sebille, were the only U.S. Air Force members to receive the Army version of the Medal of Honor, as the Air Force version would not be awarded until the Vietnam War. Sebille’s Medal of Honor citation reads:

“Maj. Sebille distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. During an attack on a camouflaged area containing a concentration of enemy troops, artillery, and armored vehicles, Maj. Sebille's F-51 aircraft was severely damaged by antiaircraft fire. Although fully cognizant of the short period he could remain airborne, he deliberately ignored the possibility of survival by abandoning the aircraft or by crash landing and continued his attack against the enemy forces threatening the security of friendly ground troops. In his determination to inflict maximum damage upon the enemy, Maj. Sebille again exposed himself to the intense fire of enemy gun batteries and dived on the target to his death. The superior leadership, daring, and selfless devotion to duty which he displayed in the execution of an extremely dangerous mission were an inspiration to both his subordinates and superiors and reflect the highest credit upon himself, the U.S. Air Force, and the armed forces of the United Nations.”

Sebille’s legacy is one that has been continued by his wife and son, and all those who served in the Air Force with him. He is remembered as “a remarkable friend, a fine commander and a very brave man,” by his former wingman in Korea. Sebille’s bravery is clear as he made the ultimate sacrifice to help his troops.