Medal of Honor: Frederick W. Mausert III, Korean War, September 12, 1951

Name: Frederick W. Mausert III

War: Korean War
Date of Action: September 12, 1951
Place: Songnap-yong, Korea
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced)
Rank: Sergeant

Summary of Action

The battle for Hill 673 was among the fiercest in Korea, its slopes fortified with deeply entrenched machine guns, bunkers, and mortars. Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, was pinned down under murderous fire when Sergeant Frederick W. Mausert III made a decision that would define his legacy.

First, he sprinted through mined ground and sheets of gunfire to pull two critically wounded Marines back to safety. Wounded himself in the head during this rescue, he refused evacuation, insisting on staying with his squad. When the order came to assault the hill, Mausert took the lead position. Charging directly into enemy fire, he rallied his Marines with a furious bayonet charge, personally silencing a machine gun nest.

Knocked to the ground when another bullet struck his helmet, he rose again, reorganizing his squad for the final push. When the enemy fire grew heavier, Mausert deliberately exposed himself, drawing fire away from his men so they could maneuver. Again hit and severely wounded, he fought on, grenades in hand, blasting another bunker. Finally, in a storm of grenades and machine gun fire, Mausert was mortally struck down. His men, inspired by his selfless courage, surged forward, overran the last defenses, and seized the hill.

Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader in Company B, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With his company pinned down and suffering heavy casualties under murderous machine gun, rifle, artillery, and mortar fire laid down from heavily fortified, deeply entrenched hostile strongholds on Hill 673, Sgt. Mausert unhesitatingly left his covered position and ran through a heavily mined and fire-swept area to bring back 2 critically wounded men to the comparative safety of the lines. Staunchly refusing evacuation despite a painful head wound sustained during his voluntary act, he insisted on remaining with his squad and, with his platoon ordered into the assault moments later, took the point position and led his men in a furious bayonet charge against the first of a literally impregnable series of bunkers. Stunned and knocked to the ground when another bullet struck his helmet, he regained his feet and resumed his drive, personally silencing the machine gun and leading his men in eliminating several other emplacements in the area. Promptly reorganizing his unit for a renewed fight to the final objective on top of the ridge, Sgt. Mausert boldly left his position when the enemy’s fire gained momentum and, making a target of himself, boldly advanced alone into the face of the machine gun, drawing the fire away from his men and enabling them to move into position to assault. Again severely wounded when the enemy’s fire found its mark, he still refused aid and continued spearheading the assault to the topmost machine gun nest and bunkers, the last bulwark of the fanatic aggressors. Leaping into the wall of fire, he destroyed another machine gun with grenades before he was mortally wounded by bursting grenades and machine gun fire. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sgt. Mausert, by his fortitude, great personal valor, and extraordinary heroism in the face of almost certain death, had inspired his men to sweep on, overrun and finally secure the objective. His unyielding courage throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.