Medal of Honor: HM3 Edward C. Benfold Korean War – September 5, 1952

The Last Act of Mercy – HM3 Edward C. Benfold

Korean War – September 5, 1952

In the chaos of battle, when most men sought cover from the storm of artillery and mortar fire, Hospital Corpsman Edward C. Benfold ran toward it. He was not armed with a rifle or grenades, but with bandages, morphine, and a voice of calm encouragement. His mission was not to take life, but to save it. And in the end, he gave his own in the most selfless way imaginable—becoming both shield and sword in a single, final act of courage.

Name: Edward C. Benfold
Rank: Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Branch: U.S. Navy (attached to 1st Marine Division)
Date of Action: September 5, 1952
Location: Korea
Born: January 15, 1931 – Staten Island, New York
Entered Service At: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Summary of Action

The night sky above Korea was shattered by the roar of artillery and the flash of mortar bursts. A Marine company holding the line came under ferocious assault by enemy forces estimated at battalion strength. Amid the chaos, cries for “Corpsman!” rose above the din.

Edward Benfold answered every call. Ignoring the storm of machine-gun and mortar fire, he moved from foxhole to foxhole, dressing wounds, steadying the frightened, and lending words of encouragement to men who believed they would not survive the night.

When enemy troops broke through and attacked from both front and rear, Benfold left the relative safety of his sheltered aid position and sprinted to the ridge line. There, in a shell crater, he found two Marines. As he approached to check their condition, the enemy struck—two grenades landed inside the crater, and two enemy soldiers rushed forward with bayonets ready.

Benfold reacted instantly. Without hesitation, he seized a grenade in each hand, leapt from the crater, and hurled himself bodily against the two charging enemy soldiers. The grenades detonated in an instant, killing the attackers and mortally wounding Benfold. But the two Marines in the crater lived. His life had been given for theirs.

Medal of Honor Citation

For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving in operations against enemy aggressor forces. When his company was subjected to heavy artillery and mortar barrages, followed by a determined assault during the hours of darkness by an enemy force estimated at battalion strength, HC3c. Benfold resolutely moved from position to position in the face of intense hostile fire, treating the wounded and lending words of encouragement. Leaving the protection of his sheltered position to treat the wounded when the platoon area in which he was working was attacked from both the front and rear, he moved forward to an exposed ridge line where he observed 2 marines in a large crater. As he approached the 2 men to determine their condition, an enemy soldier threw 2 grenades into the crater while 2 other enemy charged the position. Picking up a grenade in each hand, HC3c Benfold leaped out of the crater and hurled himself against the on-rushing hostile soldiers, pushing the grenades against their chests and killing both the attackers. Mortally wounded while carrying out this heroic act, HC3c. Benfold, by his great personal valor and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death, was directly responsible for saving the lives of his 2 comrades. His exceptional courage reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for others.