Charlie E. Allen

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Charlie E. Allen (US53061833), Private First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with an Infantry Company of the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Private First Class Allen distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chorwon, Korea, on the morning of 4 October 1951. On that date, the company of which Private Allen was a member was occupying a strategic hill when it was brought under fire by hostile troops emplaced on adjacent ridges. This harassing fire threatened to make the friendly positions untenable and squads were sent to attack and eliminate the enemy emplacements. As Private Allen and his comrades assaulted one of the ridges, they were subjected to a heavy volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire from the enemy positions, effectively pinning them down. In the initial burst of fire, Private Allen observed one of his comrades fall wounded on exposed terrain. Without regard for his personal safety, he hastened to the man’s side in an effort to render aid. Upon reaching the stricken soldier, Private Allen attempted to evacuate him but the hostile troops threw a large number of grenades at the position occupied by the two men. As the grenades began to explode all about him, Private Allen, thinking only of the safety of his comrade, dropped to the ground and courageously shielded the man’s body with his own. His selfless action saved the life of the wounded soldier, but it cost Private Allen his own for he was mortally wounded by grenade fragments.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 227 (May 1, 1952)