Medal of Honor: John W. Collier, Korean War, September 19, 1950
With his comrades pinned down by fire, Corporal John W. Collier charged a machine gun nest, destroyed it, and then gave his life by throwing himself on a grenade—saving his squad at the cost of his own.
September 23, 2025
Name: John W. Collier
Rank: Corporal, U.S. Army
War: Korean War
Date of Action: September 19, 1950
Unit: Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment
Place: Near Chindong-ni, Korea
Born: April 3, 1929, Worthington, Kentucky
Summary of Action
During the brutal push near Chindong-ni, Korea, Company C of the 27th Infantry Regiment was locked in a fierce assault on a ridge defended by entrenched enemy soldiers. A deadly machine gun position raked the advancing Americans with fire, halting their progress and threatening to cut them down.
Recognizing the danger, Corporal John W. Collier and three comrades volunteered to silence the enemy gun. Twice they tried, and twice they were repulsed under withering fire. On the third attempt, Collier surged ahead alone, ignoring the storm of bullets and grenades to reach the emplacement. He charged directly into the line of fire, killing at least four enemy soldiers and destroying the gun.
As he made his way back down the hill to rejoin his squad, an enemy grenade landed among them. Without hesitation, Collier shouted a warning and threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full force of the blast with his body. His selfless act saved the lives of his fellow soldiers and embodied the highest traditions of valor and sacrifice.
Official Medal of Honor Citation
Cpl. Collier, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While engaged in an assault on a strategic ridge strongly defended by a fanatical enemy, the leading elements of his company encountered intense automatic weapons and grenade fire. Cpl. Collier and 3 comrades volunteered and moved forward to neutralize an enemy machine gun position which was hampering the company’s advance, but they were twice repulsed. On the third attempt, Cpl. Collier, despite heavy enemy fire and grenade barrages, moved to an exposed position ahead of his comrades, assaulted and destroyed the machine gun nest, killing at least 4 enemy soldiers. As he returned down the rocky, fire-swept hill and joined his squad, an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Shouting a warning to his comrades, he, selflessly and unhesitatingly, threw himself upon the grenade and smothered its explosion with his body. This intrepid action saved his comrades from death or injury. Cpl. Collier’s supreme, personal bravery, consummate gallantry, and noble self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.
