Medal of Honor: John U. D. Page – Korean War – November 29 to December 10, 1950
For twelve days at Chosin, an artillery officer answered every crisis and finally charged alone to save a convoy, falling mortally wounded.
December 3, 2025
Name: John Upshur Dennis Page
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: X Corps Artillery, attached to 52nd Transportation Truck Battalion
Place and Date: Chosin Reservoir, Korea – 29 November to 10 December 1950
Entered Service At: St. Paul, Minnesota
Born: February 8, 1904 – Malahi Island, Luzon, Philippine Islands
Departed: December 10, 1950 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: Minnesota
Summary of Action
From November 29 through December 10, 1950, Lieutenant Colonel John U. D. Page undertook a series of extraordinary actions during the desperate fighting surrounding the Chosin Reservoir. Originally sent from X Corps Headquarters to establish traffic control on the hazardous supply route leading to the trapped 1st Marine Division, he completed his mission — yet refused evacuation. Instead, he remained on the plateau to aid an isolated signal station and was soon cut off with the Marines.
Breaking up an ambush and rescuing his jeep driver, Page reached the surrounded garrison at Koto-ri. There, he organized and trained a makeshift reserve force from assorted Army troops trapped with the Marines. As wounded men needed evacuation, an improvised airstrip was carved from frozen ground partly outside the defensive perimeter. During two major attacks, Page strode openly onto the airstrip under heavy fire, manned a tank’s machinegun, and drove back enemy troops threatening the evacuation efforts.
On December 3, flying low over enemy positions in an observation plane, he hurled grenades into foxholes and fired his carbine from the door. After ten days of continuous fighting, when the Marines and Army elements withdrew toward Hagaru-ri and the edge of the plateau, Page was flown to Hamhung to arrange artillery support — and then immediately chose to return to the front.
As the column advanced south, Page repeatedly joined rear-guard actions. Mounting abandoned tanks, he covered vehicle movements with machinegun fire, braving direct enemy return fire. When another ambush struck the convoy, he climbed a hillside with a machinegun and held the line until men and vehicles passed safely through.
On the night of December 10, the convoy was halted by a strong enemy force striking the front and both flanks. With deadly small-arms fire pouring into the motionless column, Page fought his way to its head and charged directly into the center of the enemy position. His sudden assault threw the enemy into confusion and inflicted heavy casualties. Refusing to withdraw, he continued the fight alone until he was mortally wounded.
Lieutenant Colonel Page’s relentless courage, self-sacrifice, and refusal to leave the fight saved countless lives during the brutal Chosin breakout.
Medal of Honor Citation
In order that casualties might be evacuated, an airstrip was improvised on frozen ground partly outside of the Koto-ri defense perimeter which was continually under enemy attack. During 2 such attacks, Lt. Col. Page exposed himself on the airstrip to direct fire on the enemy, and twice mounted the rear deck of a tank, manning the machine gun on the turret to drive the enemy back into a no man’s land. On 3 December while being flown low over enemy lines in a light observation plane, Lt. Col. Page dropped handgrenades on Chinese positions and sprayed foxholes with automatic fire from his carbine.
After 10 days of constant fighting the marine and army units in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir had succeeded in gathering at the edge of the plateau and Lt. Col. Page was flown to Hamhung to arrange for artillery support of the beleaguered troops attempting to break out. Again Lt. Col. Page refused an opportunity to remain in safety and returned to give every assistance to his comrades. As the column slowly moved south Lt. Col. Page joined the rear guard. When it neared the entrance to a narrow pass it came under frequent attacks on both flanks. Mounting an abandoned tank Lt. Col. Page manned the machine gun, braved heavy return fire, and covered the passing vehicles until the danger diminished.
Later when another attack threatened his section of the convoy, then in the middle of the pass, Lt. Col. Page took a machine gun to the hillside and delivered effective counterfire, remaining exposed while men and vehicles passed through the ambuscade. On the night of 10 December the convoy reached the bottom of the pass but was halted by a strong enemy force at the front and on both flanks. Deadly small-arms fire poured into the column. Realizing the danger to the column as it lay motionless, Lt. Col. Page fought his way to the head of the column and plunged forward into the heart of the hostile position. His intrepid action so surprised the enemy that their ranks became disordered and suffered heavy casualties. Heedless of his safety, as he had been throughout the preceding 10 days, Lt. Col. Page remained forward, fiercely engaging the enemy single-handed until mortally wounded. By his valiant and aggressive spirit Lt. Col. Page enabled friendly forces to stand off the enemy. His outstanding courage, unswerving devotion to duty, and supreme self-sacrifice reflect great credit upon Lt. Col. Page and are in the highest tradition of the military service.
