Medal of Honor: Tibor Rubin – Korean War, July 23, 1950

Name: Tibor Rubin
Rank and Organization: Corporal, U.S. Army
Conflict: Korean War
Unit: Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Date of Action: July 23, 1950 – April 20, 1953
Location: Republic of Korea / Unsan, North Korea / Chinese POW Camp

Summary of Action:
Tibor Rubin was no ordinary soldier. A Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who had already defied death in Nazi concentration camps, he again stood face-to-face with annihilation—this time in Korea, wearing the uniform of the United States Army.

In July 1950, as American forces fell back to the Pusan Perimeter under relentless North Korean assault, Corporal Rubin volunteered to cover the retreat of his company alone. Holding a vital road with nothing but his rifle, he engaged enemy forces for over 24 hours. His lone stand inflicted devastating losses on the enemy and allowed the 8th Cavalry Regiment to escape encirclement.

Later, during the Allied advance into North Korea, Rubin was again at the forefront, helping capture hundreds of North Korean soldiers. Then came October 30, 1950—Unsan. In a brutal night assault by Chinese forces, Rubin took over a .30 caliber machine gun after three gunners were killed. He held his position through the night and into the next day, exhausting his ammunition but refusing to retreat. His fire blunted the enemy's advance long enough for his fellow soldiers to break contact and fall back.

Wounded and captured, Rubin was taken to a Chinese prison camp. When given the chance to leave due to his Hungarian birth, he refused. Instead, he stayed with his fellow Americans and became their lifeline. Under constant threat of torture or execution, he snuck out nightly to steal food from enemy supplies. He shared it selflessly, even as he starved. He administered rudimentary medical care, offered moral support, and kept hope alive. Survivors credit Rubin with saving the lives of at least 40 fellow POWs.

Over the course of nearly three years, Tibor Rubin showed what it means to fight not just with a weapon, but with an indomitable spirit. His actions—on the battlefield and behind the wire—are among the most extraordinary in American military history.

Medal of Honor Citation:
Corporal Tibor Rubin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism during the period from July 23, 1950, to April 20, 1953, while serving as a rifleman with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in the Republic of Korea. While his unit was retreating to the Pusan Perimeter, Corporal Rubin was assigned to stay behind to keep open the vital Taegu-Pusan Road link used by his withdrawing unit. During the ensuing battle, overwhelming numbers of North Korean troops assaulted a hill defended solely by Corporal Rubin. He inflicted a staggering number of casualties on the attacking force during his personal 24-hour battle, single-handedly slowing the enemy advance and allowing the 8th Cavalry Regiment to complete its withdrawal successfully. Following the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, the 8th Cavalry Regiment proceeded northward and advanced into North Korea. During the advance, he helped capture several hundred North Korean soldiers. On October 30, 1950, Chinese forces attacked his unit at Unsan, North Korea, during a massive nighttime assault. That night and throughout the next day, he manned a .30 caliber machine gun at the south end of the unit’s line after three previous gunners became casualties. He continued to man his machine gun until his ammunition was exhausted. His determined stand slowed the pace of the enemy advance in his sector, permitting the remnants of his unit to retreat southward. As the battle raged, Corporal Rubin was severely wounded and captured by the Chinese. Choosing to remain in the prison camp despite offers from the Chinese to return him to his native Hungary, Corporal Rubin disregarded his own personal safety and immediately began sneaking out of the camp at night in search of food for his comrades. Breaking into enemy food storehouses and gardens, he risked certain torture or death if caught. Corporal Rubin provided not only food to the starving Soldiers, but also desperately needed medical care and moral support for the sick and wounded of the POW camp. His brave, selfless efforts were directly attributed to saving the lives of as many as forty of his fellow prisoners. Corporal Rubin’s gallant actions in close contact with the enemy and unyielding courage and bravery while a prisoner of war are in the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.