Name: Einar H. Ingman, Jr.
Rank: Sergeant (then Corporal)
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company E, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
Place: Near Maltari, Korea
Entered Service At: Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Born: 6 October 1929, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Summary of Action
Near Maltari, Korea, Company E’s assault platoon attacked a heavily fortified ridge bristling with enemy machine guns.
The two leading squads were suddenly pinned down by withering fire. Both squad leaders were wounded. Men were falling. The attack stalled under devastating enemy fire.
Corporal Einar H. Ingman, Jr. stepped forward.
He assumed command, reorganized the shattered squads, combined them into a fighting force, and moved from position to position under fire—designating fields of fire, encouraging his men, and restoring order in chaos.
Spotting the machine gun that was raking his soldiers, he charged it alone.
He hurled a grenade into the position and followed with rifle fire, killing the remaining crew.
Almost immediately, a second machine gun opened fire from just 15 yards away, inflicting more casualties and halting the advance once again.
Ingman charged a second time.
As he closed on the position, grenade fragments and a hail of bullets tore into his face and neck, knocking him to the ground and seriously wounding him.
He rose anyway.
With staggering determination, using only his rifle, he killed the entire enemy gun crew before collapsing unconscious from his wounds.
His single-handed assault shattered the enemy defense. The ridge was secured. More than 100 hostile troops abandoned their weapons and fled in disorganized retreat.
Through indomitable courage, extraordinary heroism, and fearless leadership, he turned certain defeat into victory.
Medal of Honor Citation
INGMAN, EINAR H., JR.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Cpl.), U.S. Army, Company E, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Maltari, Korea, 26 February 1951.
Entered service at: Tomahawk, Wis.
Born: 6 October 1929, Milwaukee, Wis.
G.O. No.: 68, 2 August 1951.
Citation:
Sgt. Ingman, a member of Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. The 2 leading squads of the assault platoon of his company, while attacking a strongly fortified ridge held by the enemy, were pinned down by withering fire and both squad leaders and several men were wounded. Cpl. Ingman assumed command, reorganized and combined the 2 squads, then moved from 1 position to another, designating fields of fire and giving advice and encouragement to the men. Locating an enemy machine gun position that was raking his men with devastating fire he charged it alone, threw a grenade into the position, and killed the remaining crew with rifle fire. Another enemy machine gun opened fire approximately 15 yards away and inflicted additional casualties to the group and stopped the attack. When Cpl. Ingman charged the second position he was hit by grenade fragments and a hail of fire which seriously wounded him about the face and neck and knocked him to the ground. With incredible courage and stamina, he arose instantly and, using only his rifle, killed the entire guncrew before falling unconscious from his wounds. As a result of the singular action by Cpl. Ingman the defense of the enemy was broken, his squad secured its objective, and more than 100 hostile troops abandoned their weapons and fled in disorganized retreat. Cpl. Ingman’s indomitable courage, extraordinary heroism, and superb leadership reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army.
Name: Einar H. Ingman, Jr.
