Medal of Honor: Dan D. Schoonover– Korean War, July 10, 1953

Name: Dan D. Schoonover
Rank: Corporal
Conflict: Korean War
Unit: Company A, 13th Engineer Combat Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Date of Action: July 8–10, 1953
Location: Near Sokkogae, Korea

Summary of Action:
In the closing days of the Korean War, as armistice negotiations neared their end, fighting intensified along the front lines—none more fiercely contested than the rugged terrain around Sokkogae. It was here that Corporal Dan D. Schoonover, a 19-year-old combat engineer from Boise, Idaho, performed an extraordinary act of battlefield valor.

Assigned to lead a demolition squad, Schoonover’s original mission was to clear enemy bunkers—but intense fire and close-quarters chaos made the use of demolitions impossible. Without hesitation, he repurposed his engineers into a makeshift rifle squad and joined the infantry in a direct assault up a steep, exposed hillside under relentless enemy fire. As artillery slammed into an enemy bunker ahead, Schoonover surged forward alone, leapt into the smoldering position, killed one enemy soldier, and captured another.

When his fellow troops were later pinned down by automatic weapons fire from another fortified bunker, Schoonover charged forward once again—hurling grenades through apertures and emptying his pistol through the entrance, silencing the enemy position and clearing the way for his company to reach the summit.

Even after the mission was officially completed and his unit relieved, Schoonover refused to withdraw. He manned a machine gun through the night, and the next morning, joined yet another voluntary assault against fresh enemy positions. In the final moments of the engagement, he was last seen delivering devastating fire from an automatic rifle before being fatally struck by artillery.

For two days of unrelenting combat, Corporal Schoonover fought with unmatched courage—his leadership, ferocity, and sacrifice inspiring every man around him and turning the tide of a brutal engagement. His actions saved lives, broke enemy resistance, and earned him a place among America’s most honored war heroes.

Medal of Honor Citation:
Cpl. Schoonover, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. He was in charge of an engineer demolition squad attached to an infantry company which was committed to dislodge the enemy from a vital hill. Realizing that the heavy fighting and intense enemy fire made it impossible to carry out his mission, he voluntarily employed his unit as a rifle squad and, forging up the steep barren slope, participated in the assault on hostile positions. When an artillery round exploded on the roof of an enemy bunker, he courageously ran forward and leaped into the position, killing 1 hostile infantryman and taking another prisoner. Later in the action, when friendly forces were pinned down by vicious fire from another enemy bunker, he dashed through the hail of fire, hurled grenades in the nearest aperture, then ran to the doorway and emptied his pistol, killing the remainder of the enemy. His brave action neutralized the position and enabled friendly troops to continue their advance to the crest of the hill. When the enemy counterattacked he constantly exposed himself to the heavy bombardment to direct the fire of his men and to call in an effective artillery barrage on hostile forces. Although the company was relieved early the following morning, he voluntarily remained in the area, manned a machine gun for several hours, and subsequently joined another assault on enemy emplacements. When last seen he was operating an automatic rifle with devastating effect until mortally wounded by artillery fire. Cpl. Schoonover’s heroic leadership during 2 days of heavy fighting, superb personal bravery, and willing self-sacrifice inspired his comrades and saved many lives, reflecting lasting glory upon himself and upholding the honored traditions of the military service.