Medal of Honor: Tony Kenneth Burris, Korean War, October 8–9, 1951

Name: Tony Kenneth Burris
Rank: Sergeant First Class
War: Korean War
Date of Action: October 8–9, 1951
Unit: Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
Entered Service At: Blanchard, Oklahoma
Born: May 30, 1929, Blanchard, Oklahoma

Summary of Action
Heartbreak Ridge—the name itself became synonymous with savage endurance. In early October 1951, American troops were locked in brutal, close-quarters combat with entrenched North Korean and Chinese forces dug into the rocky ridgelines north of Mundung-ni. On the morning of October 8, Sergeant First Class Tony Burris led Company L’s charge into that crucible.
Pinned down by devastating fire from enemy fortifications, Burris refused to yield. With no cover and no hesitation, he rose from the earth and charged alone through exploding grenades and sweeping machine-gun bursts. One by one, he hurled grenades into enemy bunkers, killing roughly fifteen of the enemy and breaking the stalemate.
The next day, his company attacked again—this time against even stronger resistance. Early in the assault, Burris was struck by machine-gun fire, but he pressed on, reaching the crest ahead of his men before being wounded again. Bleeding and half-spent, he refused evacuation, instead calling for a recoilless rifle team to take out a nest that had the ridge locked down. Exposing himself to draw the enemy’s fire, Burris marked the target, ensuring its destruction.
Moments later, as his company began to falter under the weight of fresh gunfire, Burris pushed himself up once more. He charged the nearest emplacement, killing the entire crew and silencing the heavy gun. Moving toward a second position, he lobbed his last grenade into its mouth—destroying the gun but falling mortally wounded in the act.
His courage ignited the men of Company L, who stormed forward in fury, overrunning the ridge and capturing Hill 605—a key height in the deadly fight for Heartbreak Ridge.

Medal of Honor Citation
BURRIS, TONY K.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Vicinity of Mundung-ni, Korea, 8 and 9 October 1951. Entered service at: Blanchard, Okla. Birth: Blanchard, Okla. G.O. No.: 84, 5 September 1952. Citation: Sfc. Burris, a member of Company L, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty. On 8 October, when his company encountered intense fire from an entrenched hostile force, Sfc. Burris charged forward alone, throwing grenades into the position and destroying approximately 15 of the enemy. On the following day, spearheading a renewed assault on enemy positions on the next ridge, he was wounded by machine gun fire but continued the assault, reaching the crest of the ridge ahead of his unit and sustaining a second wound. Calling for a 57mm recoilless rifle team, he deliberately exposed himself to draw hostile fire and reveal the enemy position. The enemy machine gun emplacement was destroyed. The company then moved forward and prepared to assault other positions on the ridge line. Sfc. Burris, refusing evacuation and submitting only to emergency treatment, joined the unit in its renewed attack but fire from hostile emplacement halted the advance. Sfc. Burris rose to his feet, charged forward and destroyed the first emplacement with its heavy machine gun and crew of 6 men. Moving out to the next emplacement, and throwing his last grenade which destroyed this position, he fell mortally wounded by enemy fire. Inspired by his consummate gallantry, his comrades renewed a spirited assault which overran enemy positions and secured Hill 605, a strategic position in the battle for “Heartbreak Ridge.” Sfc. Burris’ indomitable fighting spirit, outstanding heroism, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest glory upon himself, the infantry and the U.S. Army.