Eugene V. Wetzel

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Eugene V. Wetzel (RA13393309), Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 224th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. Corporal Wetzel distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at the “Punch Bowl” in Korea, on 24 May 1953. On that date, Corporal Wetzel voluntarily accompanied a contingent assigned the mission of apprehending an enemy who had been sighted in the vicinity. As the patrol neared an allied listening post, acting as point man, he observed a hostile force lying in ambush. Disregarding personal safety, he charged forward, killing one and wounding four of the foe. Corporal Wetzel was mortally wounded in this action, but seeing an enemy soldier preparing to throw a grenade, he killed the man with his rifle, then threw himself on the lethal missile to protect his comrades from the explosion. Seconds later he lost consciousness from his wounds and remained unaware that because of the enemy’s inability to release the firing pin the grenade failed to detonate.