Charles L. Creger

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Charles L. Creger (RA18286658), Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Platoon Sergeant in an Infantry Company of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Master Sergeant Creger distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Ukkonggi, Korea, on the morning of 29 September 1951. On that morning the company of which Sergeant Creger was a member was engaged in an assault against a heavily fortified, enemy-held hill. A sizeable hostile force was occupying a large bunker and intricate trench system directly in the path of the attack from which a heavy volume of fire poured forth, halting the assaulting friendly troops. Without hesitation, Sergeant Creger selected a squad of men and led them in a spirited attack. Charging up the slope through the concentrated fire of the enemy, Sergeant Creger maneuvered his men with such skill that the hostile troops were routed from their positions with heavy casualties. As he began to reorganize his men, Sergeant Creger observed that automatic weapons fire from adjacent hostile positions had wounded two of the friendly machine-gunners. Realizing that without covering fire the enemy automatic weapons posed a serious threat to his men as they attempted to consolidate the newly won position, Sergeant Creger dashed across the fire-swept terrain to one of the friendly machine-guns and poured a devastating volume of fire into the nearby enemy positions. His deadly accurate fire neutralized the hostile guns long enough for his men to reorganize and evacuate their casualties. After returning to the captured emplacement, Sergeant Creger led the friendly troops in a continuation of their assault. As the men advanced, they were subjected to the entire firepower of the hostile force. Without regard for his personal safety, Sergeant Creger singled out the key hostile emplacement and raced forward in a single-handed attack. Upon reaching a spot within a few yards of the enemy stronghold, he threw several grenades. The hostile troops immediately retaliated with a shower of their own grenades. Despite the explosions all about him, Sergeant Creger remained in his position and methodically lobbed grenades into the enemy emplacement until it was sufficiently neutralized for his men to resume their advance. Inspired by his personal example of fearlessness, the friendly troops swept forward and secured their objective.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 265 (May 24, 1952)