Medal of Honor: Clair Goodblood - Korean War - April 24-25, 1951

Name: Clair Goodblood
Rank: Corporal
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Korean War
Unit: Company D, 7th Infantry Regiment
Date of Action: April 24-25, 1951
Location: Near Popsu-dong, Korea

Summary of Action

On 24 and 25 April 1951, Corporal Clair Goodblood distinguished himself during desperate fighting near Popsu-dong, Korea.

A machine gunner from Company D, he was attached to Company B, which occupied defensive positions on heavily wooded key terrain under attack by enemy forces.

During the bitter engagement, numerically superior enemy troops infiltrated the perimeter and made the friendly positions untenable.

When the order was given to withdraw, Goodblood voluntarily remained behind to cover the movement.

Exposed constantly to heavy enemy fire, he poured devastating machine-gun fire into the advancing attackers and slowed their assault.

During the fight, an enemy grenade landed near his position.

Without hesitation, Goodblood shoved his assistant gunner to the ground and threw himself over him in an effort to shield the other soldier from the blast.

Both men were wounded.

Ignoring his own injuries, Goodblood ordered the ammunition bearer to evacuate the wounded assistant for treatment.

He then remained alone.

Fighting a one-man defense, he continued sweeping the onrushing enemy with relentless fire.

Only when a full enemy banzai charge overran the hill was his gun finally silenced.

Later, when friendly forces recaptured the commanding ground, Goodblood’s body was found beside his weapon.

Approximately one hundred enemy dead lay in the path of his field of fire.

His fearless sacrifice delayed the enemy long enough for his unit to withdraw, regroup, and retake the strongpoint.

Through unmatched courage, devotion to comrades, and steadfast determination, Clair Goodblood reflected the highest traditions of the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

GOODBLOOD, CLAIR

Cpl. Goodblood, a member of Company D, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. Cpl. Goodblood, a machine gunner, was attached to Company B in defensive positions on thickly wooded key terrain under attack by a ruthless foe. In bitter fighting which ensued, the numerically superior enemy infiltrated the perimeter, rendering the friendly positions untenable. Upon order to move back, Cpl. Goodblood voluntarily remained to cover the withdrawal and, constantly vulnerable to heavy fire, inflicted withering destruction on the assaulting force. Seeing a grenade lobbed at his position, he shoved his assistant to the ground and flinging himself upon the soldier attempted to shield him. Despite his valorous act both men were wounded. Rejecting aid for himself, he ordered the ammunition bearer to evacuate the injured man for medical treatment. He fearlessly maintained his 1-man defense, sweeping the onrushing assailants with fire until an enemy banzai charge carried the hill and silenced his gun. When friendly elements regained the commanding ground, Cpl. Goodblood’s body was found lying beside his gun and approximately 100 hostile dead lay in the wake of his field of fire. Through his unflinching courage and willing self-sacrifice the onslaught was retarded, enabling his unit to withdraw, regroup, and resecure the strongpoint. Cpl. Goodblood’s inspirational conduct and devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and are in keeping with the noble traditions of the military service.