Herman L. West

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Herman L. West, Captain (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Captain West distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Waegwan, Korea, on 7 September 1950. When his unit, almost surrounded by the enemy, received orders to withdraw to new positions under cover of darkness, Captain West improvised litters for his wounded and began the descent from the hill they occupied. Half way down heavy enemy artillery fire cut off the Company from other withdrawing units. During this barrage, Captain West received a painful back injury, but proceeded to re-form his Company and led it down another escape route. By making a personal reconnaissance despite his severe injury, he moved his company through three miles of enemy territory until dawn, when a brisk fight developed with the enemy on all sides. The company succeeded in driving off the enemy after killing a regimental commander and his staff and capturing valuable documents which disclosed friendly artillery positions known to the enemy. Proceeding toward a friendly unit, the company came under artillery and mortar fire which cut off the last platoon, which was carrying the wounded. Captain West, completely disregarding his own safety and the intense pain from his back injury, dashed 500 yards through the heavy fire to rally and move up the last platoon. When radio contact was made and the heavy shelling was found to be from friendly units, he dashed through the barrage a second time to radio and have the fire lifted. Only by his extremely courageous leadership and selfless disregard of his own safety and despite his injured condition, was Captain West’s company, with its wounded, enabled to return to safety.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 204 (December 20, 1950), as amended by paragraph 3, Section III, of General Orders No. 121, HQ Eighth US Army Korea (1951)