Medal of Honor: Archie Van Winkle – Korean War – November 2, 1950

Name: Archie Van Winkle
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced)
Born: March 17, 1925, Juneau, Alaska
Entered Service At: Arlington, Washington

Summary of Action

On the night of November 2, 1950, near Sudong, Korea, Staff Sergeant Archie Van Winkle found his platoon under intense attack by a fanatical enemy force that had broken through the Marine lines under cover of darkness. Automatic weapons and grenades tore through the positions, pinning his men down.

Rallying his platoon amid chaos, Van Winkle led a furious counterattack through deadly fire, personally charging into the teeth of the enemy line. Every Marine who went with him was wounded—but their assault turned the tide. When he saw that one of his squads had been cut off, Van Winkle sprinted 40 yards through withering fire to reconnect them, despite a serious wound that left one arm useless.

Then, struck again—this time in the chest by a grenade—he refused evacuation and kept shouting commands, encouraging his battered Marines to stand fast. Even after collapsing from blood loss, his courage inspired his platoon to hold and repel the attack.

Medal of Honor Citation

VAN WINKLE, ARCHIE
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.).
Place and date: Vicinity of Sudong, Korea, 2 November 1950.
Entered service at: Arlington, Wash.
Born: 17 March 1925, Juneau, Alaska.

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a platoon sergeant in Company B, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Immediately rallying the men in his area after a fanatical and numerically superior enemy force penetrated the center of the line under cover of darkness and pinned down the platoon with a devastating barrage of deadly automatic weapons and grenade fire, S/Sgt. Van Winkle boldly spearheaded a determined attack through withering fire against hostile frontal positions and, though he and all the others who charged with him were wounded, succeeded in enabling his platoon to gain the fire superiority and the opportunity to reorganize. Realizing that the left flank squad was isolated from the rest of the unit, he rushed through 40 yards of fierce enemy fire to reunite his troops despite an elbow wound which rendered one of his arms totally useless. Severely wounded a second time when a direct hit in the chest from a hostile hand grenade caused serious and painful wounds, he staunchly refused evacuation and continued to shout orders and words of encouragement to his depleted and battered platoon. Finally carried from his position unconscious from shock and from loss of blood, S/Sgt. Van Winkle served to inspire all who observed him to heroic efforts in successfully repulsing the enemy attack. His superb leadership, valiant fighting spirit, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of heavy odds reflect the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service.