Medal of Honor: Richard E. Cavazos – Korean War – June 14-15, 1953

Name: Richard Edward Cavazos

Rank: First Lieutenant (Highest Rank: General)

Branch: U.S. Army

War: Korean War

Unit: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division

Date of Action: June 14-15, 1953

Location: Vicinity of Sagimak, Republic of Korea

Summary of Action

By the summer of 1953, the Korean War had devolved into a brutal struggle for heavily fortified hilltops and outposts along the front lines. Although armistice negotiations were underway, the fighting remained as fierce and costly as ever.

On the night of June 14, First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos led Company E, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, on a combat raid against a heavily fortified enemy outpost near Sagimak. Their mission was straightforward but extraordinarily dangerous—destroy the enemy personnel and fortifications occupying the position.

Leading from the front, Cavazos guided his men through devastating enemy mortar and artillery fire as they advanced toward the objective.

Once inside the enemy trench system, fierce hand-to-hand and close-range combat erupted. Cavazos continuously directed fire upon enemy positions while encouraging and leading his soldiers under intense combat conditions.

An overwhelming enemy mortar and artillery barrage soon struck the American position, forcing him to withdraw and reorganize his company.

Many officers would have considered the mission complete after surviving such an assault.

Richard Cavazos immediately led his company back into the fight.

Twice more during the night, he personally led assaults through heavy enemy fire, destroying enemy bunkers, fortifications, and personnel. Throughout the battle, he remained constantly exposed to enemy fire, inspiring his men through his leadership and calm determination.

Eventually, Cavazos received orders to withdraw his company.

He obeyed the order—but only partially.

Rather than departing with his soldiers, First Lieutenant Cavazos remained alone on the enemy-held battlefield to search for missing men.

Despite continuing enemy fire, he located five wounded soldiers who had been left behind during the fighting. One by one, he carried each casualty to the reverse slope of a nearby hill where friendly forces could safely recover them.

Having completed those rescues, Cavazos once again returned to the battlefield.

There, he discovered a small group of soldiers who had become separated from the main assault force and personally led them back to friendly lines.

When informed that additional men were still missing, he turned around and returned to the battlefield yet again.

He located another isolated group of soldiers and brought them safely back.

Still unsatisfied that everyone had been accounted for, Cavazos made two additional unassisted trips into enemy territory searching for missing Americans.

Only after personally ensuring that the battlefield had been cleared on the morning of June 15 did he finally allow treatment for his own combat wounds sustained during the night's fighting.

The young lieutenant who refused to leave his men behind would go on to enjoy one of the most distinguished careers in United States Army history. Rising through the ranks over the following decades, Richard Edward Cavazos became the first Hispanic four-star general in the United States Army and helped shape the modern Army during the post-Vietnam era.

His Medal of Honor action, however, remains the purest example of his leadership philosophy—that a commander's first responsibility is always his soldiers.

Medal of Honor Citation

RICHARD EDWARD CAVAZOS

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant (Highest Rank: General), United States Army.

Unit: Company E, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

Place and date: Vicinity of Sagimak, Korea, June 14-15, 1953.

Citation:

First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the Company Commander, Company E, 2d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, on June 14-15, 1953, in the vicinity of Sagimak, Korea.

On the night of June 14, First Lieutenant Cavazos led his company in a raid on an entrenched enemy outpost with the mission of destroying the personnel and installation thereon. During the initial attack, First Lieutenant Cavazos led his men through intense enemy mortar and artillery fire.

Upon entering the trenches, fierce close combat ensued during which First Lieutenant Cavazos directed heavy fire on the enemy and their positions. When an extremely intense enemy mortar and artillery barrage hit his position, First Lieutenant Cavazos withdrew the company and regrouped his men.

Twice more he led his men through intense enemy fire in assaults on the enemy position, destroying vital enemy fortifications and personnel.

During the entire assault, First Lieutenant Cavazos gave effective commands and words of encouragement to his men and by his personal example and leadership inspired them to heroic heights of achievement.

When ordered to withdraw his company, First Lieutenant Cavazos complied but remained alone on the enemy outpost to search for missing men. Although exposed to enemy fire, First Lieutenant Cavazos located five battle casualties and evacuated each, one by one, to a point on the reverse slope of a nearby hill where they could be safely recovered by friendly forces.

Returning to the battlefield, he found a small group of men who had become separated from the main assaulting force and personally led them to safety.

When informed that there were still men missing, First Lieutenant Cavazos again returned to the scene of the battle where he located and led another small group of men to safety.

First Lieutenant Cavazos then made two more unassisted trips to the battlefield searching for missing soldiers.

Not until he was personally satisfied that the battlefield was cleared on the morning of June 15 did he allow treatment of his own combat wounds sustained during the action.

First Lieutenant Cavazos' conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

The ghosts of the battlefield are counting on us to remember them. Help preserve their stories.