Medal of Honor: David M. Smith, Korean War, September 1, 1950

Name: Luther H. Story
War: Korean War
Date of Action: September 1, 1950
Branch/Unit: U.S. Army, Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
Born: July 20, 1931, Buena Vista, Georgia

Summary of Action

The U.S. Eighth Army was fighting for survival along the Pusan Perimeter in August and September 1950. At Agok, Korea, three enemy divisions launched a savage daylight attack against the thinly stretched 9th Infantry.

Story, serving as a weapons squad leader, saw an entire enemy battalion crossing the Naktong River. Grabbing a machine gun from a wounded comrade, he poured devastating fire into the column, killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers.

As his company was ordered to withdraw under intense pressure, Story noticed an enemy truck full of troops and towing ammunition. With complete disregard for his own life, he stood in the middle of the road and hurled grenades into the truck, destroying it. When his grenades were exhausted, he crawled under fire to gather more and attacked again.

Hit and wounded during the withdrawal, Story rallied his men and continued to fight, personally repelling enemy attacks with grenades and rifle fire. Realizing his wounds would slow his comrades, he refused evacuation and stayed behind to cover their retreat. The last time he was seen, he was firing every weapon he could lay hands on, holding off another assault until he was killed. His sacrifice allowed Company A to escape encirclement and reorganize for the continued defense of the Pusan Perimeter.

Medal of Honor Citation

Citation:
Pfc. Story distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. A savage daylight attack by elements of 3 enemy divisions penetrated the thinly held lines of the 9th Infantry. Company A beat off several banzai attacks but was bypassed and in danger of being cut off and surrounded. Pfc. Story, a weapons squad leader, was heavily engaged in stopping the early attacks and had just moved his squad to a position overlooking the Naktong River when he observed a large group of the enemy crossing the river to attack Company A. Seizing a machine gun from his wounded gunner he placed deadly fire on the hostile column killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers. Facing certain encirclement the company commander ordered a withdrawal. During the move Pfc. Story noticed the approach of an enemy truck loaded with troops and towing an ammunition trailer. Alerting his comrades to take cover he fearlessly stood in the middle of the road, throwing grenades into the truck. Out of grenades he crawled to his squad, gathered up additional grenades and again attacked the vehicle. During the withdrawal the company was attacked by such superior numbers that it was forced to deploy in a rice field. Pfc. Story was wounded in this action, but, disregarding his wounds, rallied the men about him and repelled the attack. Realizing that his wounds would hamper his comrades he refused to retire to the next position but remained to cover the company’s withdrawal. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault. Private Story’s extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.