Charles F. Pendleton
Medal of Honor recipient Charles Pendleton
Born(1931-09-26)September 26, 1931
Camden, Tennessee
DiedJuly 17, 1953(1953-07-17) (aged 21)
Kumsong, North Korea
Place of burial
Laurel Land Memorial Park Fort Worth, Texas
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1951–1953
RankCorporal
UnitCompany D, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Battles/warsKorean War
AwardsMedal of Honor
Purple Heart

Charles Frank Pendleton[1] (September 26, 1931 – July 17, 1953) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on 16–17 July 1953 during the Battle of Kumsong.

Pendleton joined the Army from Fort Worth, Texas in 1951.[2] He is buried at Laurel Land Memorial Park in Fort Worth.[3]

Awards and decorations

Medal of Honor

Charles F. Pendleton
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company D, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Choo Gung-Dong, Korea, 16 and July 17, 1953
Entered service at: Fort Worth, Texas
Born: September 26, 1931, Camden, Tennessee
Awarded for actions during: Korean War

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Corporal Charles F. Pendleton (ASN: 25916461), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company D, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Choo Gung-Dong, Korea, on 16 and 17 July 1953. After consolidating and establishing a defensive perimeter on a key terrain feature, friendly elements were attacked by a large hostile force. Corporal Pendleton delivered deadly accurate fire into the approaching troops, killing approximately 15 and disorganizing the remainder with grenades. Unable to protect the flanks because of the narrow confines of the trench, he removed the machinegun from the tripod and, exposed to enemy observation, positioned it on his knee to improve his firing vantage. Observing a hostile infantryman jumping into the position, intent on throwing a grenade at his comrades, he whirled about and killed the attacker, then inflicted such heavy casualties on the enemy force that they retreated to regroup. After reorganizing, a second wave of hostile soldiers moved forward in an attempt to overrun the position and, later, when a hostile grenade landed nearby, Corporal Pendleton quickly retrieved and hurled it back at the foe. Although he was burned by the hot shells ejecting from his weapon, and he was wounded by a grenade, he refused evacuation and continued to fire on the assaulting force. As enemy action increased in tempo, his machinegun was destroyed by a grenade but, undaunted, he grabbed a carbine and continued his heroic defense until mortally wounded by a mortar burst. Corporal Pendleton's unflinching courage, gallant self-sacrifice, and consummate devotion to duty reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the military service.[4][5]


Commendations

CPL Pendelton was awarded the following:[6]

Width-44 purple ribbon with width-4 white stripes on the borders
Badge Combat Infantryman Badge
1st row Medal of Honor Purple Heart National Defense Service Medal
2nd row Korean Service Medal
with 3 bronze Campaign stars
United Nations Korea Medal Korean War Service Medal
Badge U.S. Army Expert Marksmanship Badge
with rifle and machine gun component bars
Unit citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

See also

Notes

  1. Profile
  2. Service Profile
  3. Korean War Project
  4. "Charles F. Pendleton, Medal of Honor". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  5. ""CHARLES F. PENDLETON" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  6. "CPL Charles F. Pendleton - Military Timeline". www.army.togetherweserved.com. Retrieved December 19, 2021.

References

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