Medal of Honor: Sergeant First Class Loren R. Kaufman, Korean War, September 4–5, 1950

Sergeant First Class Loren R. Kaufman

Korean War – September 4–5, 1950

In the chaos of Korea’s brutal early months, when United Nations forces were clinging desperately to a narrow perimeter around Pusan, heroes emerged whose ferocity and willpower turned the tide of battle. Among them was Sergeant First Class Loren R. Kaufman, a man whose gallantry and aggression became legendary across the hills and villages near Yongsan.

On the night of September 4, 1950, his company braced for the inevitable—an assault by a numerically superior enemy. In the early hours of the next day, when an enemy battalion came crashing down upon their positions, Kaufman’s platoon was ordered to reinforce the beleaguered line.

As his men moved along a ridge, they suddenly ran headlong into an enemy encircling force. Without hesitation, Kaufman sprinted forward. He met the lead scout with his bayonet, dropping him instantly, then launched a furious attack with grenades and rifle fire. The ferocity of his charge shocked the enemy into confusion and retreat. His reckless courage saved the platoon and opened the way to reinforce the company below.

But the fight was far from over. Once reunited with the company, Kaufman found his fellow soldiers pinned in a deadly draw, the enemy holding commanding ground above them. Again, he seized the initiative. Charging headlong into fire, he hurled grenades, fired his rifle, and stabbed two more enemy soldiers with his bayonet. Spotting an unmanned machine gun, he seized it and poured fire into the hostile positions, scattering defenders and breaking the deadlock.

The counterattack continued up the ridge. Kaufman personally destroyed another machine gun nest and drove the remaining troops into a desperate flight. He was relentless. Bayoneting two more foes, he pressed on until he reached an enemy mortar crew, killing them with rifle fire. Not content to stop there, he rallied his men for a pursuit into a nearby village. Once inside, he cleared out the remnants of the enemy, dispersed survivors, and set the buildings ablaze to deny their further use.

Over the course of those two harrowing days, Kaufman’s dauntless leadership and fearless charges shattered the enemy’s assault and restored his company’s position. His every action inspired his comrades, proving that the will of one determined soldier could turn the course of battle.

Medal of Honor Citation

Sergeant First Class Kaufman distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. On the night of 4 September the company was in a defensive position on 2 adjoining hills. His platoon was occupying a strong point 2 miles away protecting the battalion flank. Early on 5 September the company was attacked by an enemy battalion and his platoon was ordered to reinforce the company. As his unit moved along a ridge it encountered a hostile encircling force. Sfc. Kaufman, running forward, bayoneted the lead scout and engaged the column in a rifle and grenade assault. His quick vicious attack so surprised the enemy that they retreated in confusion. When his platoon joined the company he discovered that the enemy had taken commanding ground and pinned the company down in a draw. Without hesitation Sfc. Kaufman charged the enemy lines firing his rifle and throwing grenades. During the action, he bayoneted 2 enemy and seizing an unmanned machine gun, delivered deadly fire on the defenders. Following this encounter the company regrouped and resumed the attack. Leading the assault he reached the ridge, destroyed a hostile machine gun position, and routed the remaining enemy. Pursuing the hostile troops he bayoneted 2 more and then rushed a mortar position shooting the gunners. Remnants of the enemy fled to a village and Sfc. Kaufman led a patrol into the town, dispersed them, and burned the buildings. The dauntless courage and resolute intrepid leadership of Sfc. Kaufman were directly responsible for the success of his company in regaining its positions, reflecting distinct credit upon himself and upholding the esteemed traditions of the military service.