Junior D. Edwards

Sergeant First Class · U.S. Army

U.S. Army, Company E, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division

2 January 1951 · Changbong ni, Korea

Branch: U.S. Army
Era: Korean War
Home state: Iowa
Action: Changbong ni, Korea

The citation

Official citation

Sergeant. 1st Class. Edwards, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon, while assisting in the defense of a strategic hill, was forced out of its position and came under vicious raking fire from an enemy machine gun set up on adjacent high ground, Sergeant. 1st Class. Edwards individually charged the hostile emplacement, throwing grenades as he advanced. The enemy withdrew but returned to deliver devastating fire when he had expended his ammunition. Securing a fresh supply of grenades, he again charged the emplacement, neutralized the weapon and killed the crew, but was forced back by hostile small-arms fire. When the enemy emplaced another machine gun and resumed fire, Sergeant. 1st Class. Edwards again renewed his supply of grenades, rushed a third time through a vicious hail of fire, silenced this second gun and annihilated its crew. In this third daring assault he was mortally wounded but his indomitable courage and successful action enabled his platoon to regain and hold the vital strongpoint. Sergeant. 1st Class. Edwards' consummate valor and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the utmost glory upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the infantry and military service.

Sources

U.S. Army Medal of Honor citation index
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