Medal of Honor: Walter C. Monegan, Jr. Korean War – September 17 & 20, 1950

Walter C. Monegan, Jr.

Korean War – September 17 & 20, 1950

In the desperate fighting around Seoul during the Inchon campaign, PFC Walter C. Monegan, Jr., a Marine rocket gunner, stood in the path of advancing North Korean tanks. On September 17, he moved forward under heavy automatic weapons fire to blast the lead tank at point-blank range, killing the surviving crewman and disrupting the armored assault. Three days later, in darkness and chaos, he again charged into enemy armor, destroying two more tanks before being fatally struck down. His valor helped his company repel overwhelming forces at a critical moment of the battle.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.)
Place and date: Near Sosa-ri, Korea, 17 and 20 September 1950
Entered service at: Seattle, Wash.
Born: 25 December 1930, Melrose, Mass.

On September 17, 1950, near Seoul, Korea, PFC Walter C. Monegan Jr. displayed extraordinary gallantry as a rocket gunner defending his battalion against an enemy tank assault. When six hostile tanks advanced under cover of heavy fire, he rushed forward with his bazooka, engaging the lead vehicle at point-blank range, destroying it, and personally killing the surviving crewman. Despite intense fire, he continued to engage the column, breaking its momentum and allowing friendly armor to hold the line.

On September 20, during a renewed enemy tank-infantry attack in total darkness, Monegan seized his rocket launcher and charged directly into the breach. Illuminated by flares, he scored decisive hits, disabling two enemy tanks and forcing another to retreat. Standing in full view of the enemy to deliver a final shot, he was fatally struck by machine-gun fire.

His fearless initiative and self-sacrifice were pivotal in repelling overwhelming enemy forces. His gallantry under fire preserved the integrity of his company’s position and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service

.Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rocket gunner attached to Company F, and in action against enemy aggressor forces. Dug in on a hill overlooking the main Seoul highway when 6 enemy tanks threatened to break through the battalion position during a predawn attack on 17 September, Pfc. Monegan promptly moved forward with his bazooka, under heavy hostile automatic weapons fire and engaged the lead tank at a range of less than 50 yards. After scoring a direct hit and killing the sole surviving tankman with his carbine as he came through the escape hatch, he boldly fired 2 more rounds of ammunition at the oncoming tanks, disorganizing the attack and enabling our tank crews to continue blasting with their 90-mm guns. With his own and an adjacent company’s position threatened by annihilation when an overwhelming enemy tank-infantry force bypassed the area and proceeded toward the battalion command post during the early morning of September 20, he seized his rocket launcher and, in total darkness, charged down the slope of the hill where the tanks had broken through. Quick to act when an illuminating shell lit the area, he scored a direct hit on one of the tanks as hostile rifle and automatic-weapons fire raked the area at close range. Again exposing himself, he fired another round to destroy a second tank and, as the rear tank turned to retreat, stood upright to fire and was fatally struck down by hostile machine gun fire when another illuminating shell silhouetted him against the sky. Pfc. Monegan’s daring initiative, gallant fighting spirit and courageous devotion to duty were contributing factors in the success of his company in repelling the enemy, and his self-sacrificing efforts throughout sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.