Medal of Honor: Sergeant First Class Eduardo C. Gomez, Korean War, September 3, 1950

Sergeant First Class Eduardo C. Gomez

War: Korean War
Date of Action: September 3, 1950

Summary of Action

On the desperate battlefields near Tabu-dong, Korea, September 1950, Sergeant First Class Eduardo C. Gomez stood as the embodiment of grit and defiance. His unit, Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, was under withering assault from a determined enemy force intent on breaking through American lines. The enemy brought forward tanks, a fearsome presence that pinned his company down and threatened to collapse the defensive perimeter.

Rather than wait for destruction, Gomez made his decision. With complete disregard for his own safety, he crawled across open ground swept by fire, closing the distance to one of the advancing tanks. Under the very shadow of its cannon, he unleashed his grenades into the armored beast, disabling the crew’s efforts and forcing the enemy to falter. Wounded during his retreat, Gomez refused evacuation, ignoring his pain to rejoin his men. There, he manned his position, delivering steady, punishing fire until his company was able to regroup and form a defensive line that held against the onslaught.

His act was more than bravery—it was an act of defiance against overwhelming force. Gomez’s assault on the tank and his unyielding refusal to quit inspired his company to stand firm. In those critical hours, one man’s willpower helped hold a line that could not be broken.

Medal of Honor Citation

Then-Sgt. Eduardo Gomez distinguished himself by defending his company as it was ruthlessly attacked by a hostile force. Notably, Gomez maneuvered across open ground to successfully assault a manned tank. Wounded during his retreat from the tank, Gomez refused medical attention, instead manning his post and firing upon the enemy until his company formed a defensive perimeter.