Victor Kozares

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Victor Kozares, Private 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 E, 2d Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Kozares distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Soan-ni, Korea, on 6 February 1951. As the 1st platoon was halted by the intense and accurate small-arms and automatic-weapons fire of the enemy, the company commander ordered the 3d platoon, of’ which Corporal Kozares was a member, to launch a bayonet attack against the hostile emplacements. Corporal Kozares immediately led a small group forward to engage the enemy. After expending his grenades on the outer defenses of the hostile force, he called for his comrades to pass their grenades to him and continued hurling them until their defenses were breached. With this accomplished, he charged the nearest enemy emplacement, shouting for the rest of the men to follow. After killing one of the enemy with rifle fire and bayoneting another, Corporal Kozares ran down a third and killed him with his bayonet after his rifle jammed. Stopping only long enough to clear his rifle, he then moved forward through the hostile positions, killing many of the enemy with his bayonet and rifle. His courageous and aggressive actions were a primary factor in the successful accomplishment of the company’s mission.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 749 (October 7, 1951)