Cliff R. High

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Cliff R. High, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Private High distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Suim Myon, Korea, on the afternoon of 10 October 1951. On that date, two platoons from the company of which Private High was a member launched an attack on a tactically important terrain feature held by a determined enemy force. When his platoon leader became a casualty, Private High, displaying aggressive leadership, assumed command of the platoon and led it forward to continue the attack. As the friendly troops crossed a ridgeline and advanced down the opposite slope, an enemy machine-gun opened fire on them, pinning them down and inflicting several casualties. Seeing that the other platoon leader had been wounded, Private High took command of the entire friendly force and led it forward in the face of heavy hostile fire. Within twenty feet of the objective, the friendly troops were subjected to a shower of grenades which halted their advance and then forced them back. Although stunned by the blast from one of the grenades, Private High paused only momentarily before again assuming command of the battered friendly force. Exhibiting keen tactical perception, he deployed automatic weapons to cover the flanks of his unit and then led the remainder of his small force in a smashing charge which overran the hill and destroyed the enemy positions. Private High’s courageous leadership resulted in the successful completion of his company’s mission, the death of at least fourteen of the enemy, and the capture of twenty-four prisoners.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 693 (November 11, 1952)