Richard R. Fontaine
General Orders No. 24 (February 5, 1951) | General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 24 (February 5, 1951)
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Richard R. Fontaine, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Squad Leader with a platoon of Company K, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Sergeant Fontaine distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Pohang-dong, Korea, on 2 September 1950. Sergeant Fontaine led his squad in a company attack against a strongly fortified enemy hill position from which the enemy had an unobstructed view of the terrain over which the company advanced. Concurrent with the assault, the enemy opened heavy fire, wounding and killing many. Despite these discouraging reverses, Sergeant Fontaine sprang forward, urging the remainder of his men to continue pressing the attack. Disregarding his own painful and partially disabling wounds cause by the flying shrapnel, he steadfastly refused medical aid or evacuation, electing to remain with his unit. His progress hampered by an injured leg, he was some distance to the rear of his platoon when it was pinned down by heavy hostile automatic and artillery cross-fire. Ignoring his wounds and weakened condition from loss of blood, Sergeant Fontaine seized a light machine-gun and struggled forward to knock out two enemy machine-guns and their three-man crews. When a third machine-gun opened fire on his platoon, Sergeant Fontaine, disregarding a veritable hail of enemy bullets, dragged himself and his light weapon to a completely exposed position and successfully annihilated both the gun and its crew. Even then he refused evacuation and placed himself in a position where he could effectively cover his men until they completed entrenchment. He killed approximately nine of the enemy, and through his courageous leadership, superb personal bravery, and selfless devotion to the welfare of others, was principally responsible for maintaining the line and inspired his comrades to efforts which later resulted in seizure of the mountain stronghold.
