MOH

Medal of Honor: John Essebagger Jr. - Korean War - April 25, 1951

When his outnumbered force began to fall back, one man chose to stay behind. He stood alone against the attack so others could live.

May 1, 2026

Name: John Essebagger Jr.
Rank: Corporal
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Korean War
Unit: Company A, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
Date of Action: April 25, 1951
Location: Near Popsudong, Korea

Summary of Action

On 25 April 1951, Corporal John Essebagger Jr. distinguished himself during fierce combat near Popsudong, Korea.

His company had been committed to conduct a delaying action in order to cover the withdrawal of the 3d Battalion through Company A’s lines.

Essebagger was part of one of two squads holding defensive positions on key terrain guarding the company’s right flank.

Throughout the engagement, the small force had already repulsed numerous enemy attacks.

Then a numerically superior enemy force launched a frenzied banzai charge.

The violent assault threatened to overrun the route of withdrawal and isolate the defending detachment.

Shaken by the attack and badly outnumbered, the small American force began to pull back.

Recognizing the grave danger, Essebagger voluntarily remained behind to provide security for the withdrawal.

Alone, he made a one-man stand.

From his position, he raked the advancing enemy with devastating fire.

As hostile troops closed in, he left the relative safety of cover and moved forward directly into overwhelming odds.

Firing his weapon and hurling grenades, he struck the attackers again and again, disrupting their advance and buying precious time.

Ignoring withering enemy fire and bursting shells, he continued pressing forward until he was mortally wounded.

His fearless stand exacted a heavy toll in enemy dead and wounded, stemmed the assault, and enabled the withdrawing squads to reach safety.

Through supreme sacrifice, courage, and devotion to comrades, John Essebagger Jr. reflected the highest traditions of the infantry and the United States Army.

Medal of Honor Citation

ESSEBAGGER, JOHN, JR.

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company A, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Popsudong, Korea, 25 April 1951.
Entered service at: Holland, Mich.
Born: 29 October 1928, Holland, Mich.
G.O. No.: 61, 24 April 1952.

Citation:
Cpl. Essebagger, a member of Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Committed to effect a delaying action to cover the 3d Battalion’s withdrawal through Company A, Cpl. Essebagger, a member of 1 of 2 squads maintaining defensive positions in key terrain and defending the company’s right flank, had participated in repulsing numerous attacks. In a frenzied banzai charge the numerically superior enemy seriously threatened the security of the planned route of withdrawal and isolation of the small force. Badly shaken, the grossly outnumbered detachment started to fall back and Cpl. Essebagger, realizing the impending danger, voluntarily remained to provide security for the withdrawal. Gallantly maintaining a 1-man stand, Cpl. Essebagger raked the menacing hordes with crippling fire and, with the foe closing on the position, left the comparative safety of his shelter and advanced in the face of overwhelming odds, firing his weapon and hurling grenades to disconcert the enemy and afford time for displacement of friendly elements to more tenable positions. Scorning the withering fire and bursting shells, Cpl. Essebagger continued to move forward, inflicting destruction upon the fanatical foe until he was mortally wounded. Cpl. Essebagger’s intrepid action and supreme sacrifice exacted a heavy toll in enemy dead and wounded, stemmed the onslaught, and enabled the retiring squads to reach safety. His valorous conduct and devotion to duty reflected lasting glory upon himself and was in keeping with the noblest traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army.