Eugene Estep

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Eugene Estep (RA15378435), 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 Company H, 3d. Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. Private First Class Estep distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Parun-ni, Korea on 25 March 1951. On that date, the machine-gun section of Company H, of which Private Estep was a member, was attached to Company G of the regiment to give supporting fire in repulsing a strong and determined enemy counterattack. When the section moved into position, the enemy immediately placed heavy, accurate fire on the machine-gun positions and launched several “banzai” attacks against the section in an effort to knock out all automatic weapons. During the charges, both the gunner and assistant gunner in Private Estep’s squad were seriously wounded. Private Estep, an ammunition bearer, immediately manned the gun, single-handedly moved it to a new location, and opened fire from a flanking position which caught the enemy completely by surprise and inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking force, turning their attack into a complete rout. Heedless of his exposed position he remained in position firing until he was mortally wounded by enemy rifle fire. After the attack was repulsed and the position of the company secured, thirty enemy dead and twenty wounded were counted near Private Estep’s position as a result of his deadly machine-gun fire.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 290 (May 8, 1951)