Junius G. Poovey

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Junius G. Poovey (RA34964159), Sergeant 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 G, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Poovey distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Uiryong, Korea, on 2 September 1950. On this date Company G was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force. The forward elements of the 3d platoon were overrun and hand-to-hand combat ensued. Sergeant First Class Poovey, without regard for his own safety, exposed himself to heavy enemy fire and engaged in the hand-to-hand conflict. Within a few moments the Company Commander, Platoon Leader, and the Platoon Sergeant were killed. Sergeant Poovey immediately took command and directed the fire of his Platoon. Throughout the day Sergeant Poovey exposed himself to enemy hand grenades and devastating artillery, mortar, automatic weapons, and self-propelled gun fire to direct accurate mortar and artillery fire on the attacking enemy, repulsing numerous assaults. He assisted in aid to the wounded, and after ordered to do so by the Battalion Commander, organized and supervised the orderly withdrawal under cover of darkness. Sergeant Poovey was the last man to leave the position, and through his extraordinary heroism the lives of twenty wounded men were saved and all of the unit’s equipment was retained.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 175 (November 17, 1950)