Medal of Honor: Joseph C. Rodriguez - Korean War - May 21, 1951
Pinned down beneath a storm of machine-gun fire and grenades rolling down a steep Korean hillside, an American platoon could go no farther. One young soldier suddenly charged uphill alone and shattered the enemy defenses by himself.
May 21, 2026
Name: Joseph C. Rodriguez
Rank: Sergeant (then Private First Class)
Branch: U.S. Army
War: Korean War
Unit: Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
Date of Action: May 21, 1951
Location: Near Munye-ri, Korea
Summary of Action
On 21 May 1951, Sergeant Joseph C. Rodriguez displayed extraordinary heroism during an assault against heavily fortified enemy positions near Munye-ri, Korea.
Rodriguez served as assistant squad leader in the 2d Platoon during an attack on rugged, commanding terrain occupied by a determined and fanatical enemy force.
As the American soldiers advanced uphill, they were suddenly pinned down only sixty yards from the enemy positions by devastating automatic weapons fire coming from five separate emplacements.
Enemy troops also rolled grenades downhill toward the exposed Americans, intensifying the deadly barrage.
The platoon’s advance came to a halt under the crushing fire.
Realizing the attack was in danger of collapse, Rodriguez acted instantly.
With complete disregard for his own safety and fully aware of the overwhelming odds, he leaped to his feet and charged sixty yards straight up the fire-swept slope alone.
Reaching the first enemy foxhole, he hurled grenades with deadly precision into the position before immediately moving again.
Without slowing, Rodriguez swung around the enemy’s left flank and silenced another automatic weapon emplacement with two more grenades.
Continuing his relentless assault uphill, he stormed across the summit, destroying two additional enemy foxholes in rapid succession.
Still pressing forward, Rodriguez then attacked the final emplacement on the enemy’s right flank, tossing grenades directly into the position and annihilating the crew while destroying the weapon.
In only moments, his one-man assault shattered the entire enemy defensive line.
Rodriguez personally accounted for fifteen enemy dead and completely broke the resistance on the hilltop, allowing American forces to seize the strategic position and rout the remaining defenders.
Medal of Honor Citation
RODRIGUEZ, JOSEPH C.
Citation:
Sgt. RodrÃguez, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. Sgt. Rodriguez, an assistant squad leader of the 2d Platoon, was participating in an attack against a fanatical hostile force occupying well-fortified positions on rugged commanding terrain, when his squad's advance was halted within approximately 60 yards by a withering barrage of automatic weapons and small-arms fire from 5 emplacements directly to the front and right and left flanks, together with grenades which the enemy rolled down the hill toward the advancing troops. Fully aware of the odds against him, Sgt. Rodriguez leaped to his feet, dashed 60 yards up the fire-swept slope, and, after lobbing grenades into the first foxhole with deadly accuracy, ran around the left flank, silenced an automatic weapon with 2 grenades and continued his whirlwind assault to the top of the peak, wiping out 2 more foxholes and then, reaching the right flank, he tossed grenades into the remaining emplacement, destroying the gun and annihilating its crew. Sgt. Rodriguez' intrepid actions exacted a toll of 15 enemy dead and, as a result of his incredible display of valor, the defense of the opposition was broken, and the enemy routed, and the strategic strongpoint secured. His unflinching courage under fire and inspirational devotion to duty reflect highest credit on himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.
