Milton L. Peters, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Milton L. Peters, Jr. (ER31507272), 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, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Peters distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Kumhwa, Korea, on 16 October 1952. Spearheading an assault on the left finger of a strategic hill complex, Sergeant Peters and his platoon moved in as a skirmisher down a narrow, tortuous communications trench toward “Pike’s Peak.” Advancing at the head of the men, he threw napalm and grenades into enemy bunkers with deadly accuracy. When an officer who was to accompany the platoon on an intelligence mission passed a seemingly unoccupied cave, an enemy soldier jumped from the position and wounded him with machine-gun fire. The officer returned the fire with his pistol, but it was ineffectual. Rushing to the aid of the stricken man, Sergeant Peters killed the assailant, then evacuated the officer to the rear. Returning with a napalm satchel charge, he hurled it into the aperture, but it exploded prematurely and he was engulfed in searing flames and severely burned. Despite the pain, he refused evacuation and continued to lead the advance until ordered to retire for medical treatment. His courageous actions exacted a toll of 26 enemy, cleared the foe from the area, and enabled friendly forces to secure the objective.