Medal of Honor: Demensio Rivera – Korean War – May 22–23, 1951
On a dark Korean hillside, waves of enemy soldiers crashed into an isolated American outpost under heavy fire. One young automatic rifleman refused to give ground, fighting with grenades, a pistol, and finally his bare hands to hold the line.
May 26, 2026
Name: Demensio Rivera
Rank: Private
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Korean War
Unit: Company G, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 22–23, 1951
Location: Changyongni, Korea
Summary of Action
During the night of 22–23 May 1951, Private Demensio Rivera displayed extraordinary heroism while defending an exposed outpost position near Changyongni, Korea.
Enemy forces launched a determined nighttime assault against the American-held position, attacking under intense fire in an effort to overrun the platoon’s defenses.
Serving as an automatic rifleman on the forward line, Rivera remained firmly in position despite being directly exposed to the full violence of the attack.
As enemy troops closed in, he delivered devastating fire into the advancing force and refused to withdraw even as the fighting became desperate at close range.
During the engagement, Rivera’s automatic rifle became inoperative.
Rather than abandon the position, he immediately continued the fight using his pistol and hand grenades against the attacking enemy soldiers.
When the attackers pressed even closer, Rivera engaged them in brutal hand-to-hand combat.
Fighting at point-blank range in the darkness, he succeeded in forcing the enemy assault back and preventing the outpost from being overrun.
His relentless determination and refusal to surrender the position became a powerful example of courage under overwhelming pressure.
Rivera’s actions helped save his platoon and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Army.
Medal of Honor Citation
RIVERA, DEMENSIO