John C. Falconer

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to John C. Falconer, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Corporal Falconer distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Changpong-ni, Korea, on 20 May 1951. Corporal Falconer was a squad leader in a platoon that had the mission of attacking high terrain held by a well-entrenched enemy force. As the platoon was about to launch its attack, three rounds of artillery fire burst in its midst, disrupting the confidence and morale of the men. Corporal Falconer, after artillery and air strikes had been delivered on the enemy positions, charged forward through withering hostile fire and tossed a grenade into an enemy machine-gun position, neutralizing it. This daring action so inspired members of the platoon that they followed him in his aggressive advance and, using grenades and rifle fire, inflicted heavy casualties on the hostile troops and secured the objective. Later, when the enemy counterattacked in overwhelming numbers, he obtained an automatic weapon and from an exposed position single-handedly covered the evacuation of the wounded and the withdrawal of his platoon. When an enemy group attempted to overrun his position, he raked them with fire, killing five and forcing the remainder to flee.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 1001 (December 18, 1951)