Richard ROUGHIER Mccullough

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Richard Roughier McCullough (0-64121), Second Lieutenant (Infantry), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Second Lieutenant (Infantry) McCullough distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chorwon, Korea, on 18 July 1952. During a bitterly contested engagement in which one of the soldiers lost his helmet and carbine, Lieutenant McCullough replaced them with his own and fearlessly continued to lead the attack on the military crest of a strategic key terrain feature. As the troops approached the summit of the objective, they faltered under a shower of enemy grenades, many of which Lieutenant McCullough tossed back into the emplacement. Although wounded during this action, he successfully effected a limited withdrawal and set up defensive positions. Constantly vulnerable to heavy mortar and artillery fire, he moved about the perimeter encouraging the men, distributing ammunition, and coordinating the holding action. Although sustaining additional wounds, he organized and spearheaded a counterattack to the crest of the hill and gallantly continued to direct the assault until he lost his life.