Medal of Honor: Lewis G. Watkins, Korean War, October 7, 1952

Name: Lewis G. Watkins
Rank: Staff Sergeant
War: Korean War
Date of Action: October 7, 1952
Unit: Company I, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced)
Entered Service At: Seneca, South Carolina
Born: June 6, 1925, Seneca, South Carolina

Summary of Action
In the early hours of October 7, 1952, Staff Sergeant Lewis Watkins led his platoon in a desperate assault to retake an outpost overrun by Chinese forces. Advancing up the dark, shell-torn hill, he was struck by enemy fire but refused to fall back. Rallying his men, he seized an automatic rifle from a wounded Marine and poured fire into the enemy positions, silencing a machine gun that had pinned the platoon down. As Watkins and his men pushed through a trench along the hill’s crest, an enemy grenade suddenly landed among them. Without hesitation, he shoved his comrades aside and reached for the grenade, attempting to throw it clear. It exploded in his hand, killing him instantly—but saving the lives of those around him. His fearless leadership and selfless sacrifice turned certain tragedy into victory, inspiring his Marines to press the attack and reclaim the lost outpost.

Medal of Honor Citation
WATKINS, LEWIS G.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company I, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 7 October 1952. Entered service at: Seneca, S.C. Born: 6 June 1925, Seneca, S.C. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a guide of a rifle platoon of Company I, in action against enemy aggressor forces during the hours of darkness on the morning of 7 October 1952. With his platoon assigned the mission of retaking an outpost which had been overrun by the enemy earlier in the night, S/Sgt. Watkins skillfully led his unit in the assault up the designated hill. Although painfully wounded when a well-entrenched hostile force at the crest of the hill engaged the platoon with intense small-arms and grenade fire, he gallantly continued to lead his men. Obtaining an automatic rifle from 1 of the wounded men, he assisted in pinning down an enemy machine gun holding up the assault. When an enemy grenade landed among S/Sgt. Watkins and several other marines while they were moving forward through a trench on the hill crest, he immediately pushed his companions aside, placed himself in a position to shield them and picked up the deadly missile in an attempt to throw it outside the trench. Mortally wounded when the grenade exploded in his hand, S/Sgt. Watkins, by his great personal valor in the face of almost certain death, saved the lives of several of his comrades and contributed materially to the success of the mission. His extraordinary heroism, inspiring leadership, and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.