Stanley Reuben Christianson
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
Medal of Honor Recipient
Korean War

Stanley Reuben Christianson was born 24 January 1925, in Mindoro, WI. Stanley attended school in La Crosse County, WI, and farmed for a time before enlisting in the Marine Corps Reserve on 2 October 1942, at the age of 17.

Following recruit training at San Diego, CA, Christianson took advanced training with the 2nd Marine Division and went overseas with that division. He fought at Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa, and served with the occupation forces in Japan.

Discharged in December 1945, PFC Christianson re-enlisted in the regular Marine Corps three months later. He served at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FA, as a Drill Instructor; at Parris Island, SC; at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Hastings, NE; at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY; and at Camp Lejeune, NC, before going to Korea with the 1st Marine Division in August 1950.

After participating in the Inchon landing, he earned the Bronze Star Medal on 18 September 1950. The citation said Private First Class Christianson, acting as an automatic rifleman during an assault, "fearlessly and courageously exposed himself to find the exact location of the enemy." Eleven days later, PFC Christianson was killed. Stanley was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for giving his life in a one-man stand against a ferocious attack which threatened to destroy his platoon on 29 September 1950.

The nation's highest tribute for valor was presented to his parents by Secretary of the Navy Dan A. Kimball in Washington, DC, on 30 August 1951. The 25 year old veteran of almost eight years in the Marine Corps, also had been awarded a Letter of Commendation for meritorious service in the Pacific during World War II.

Medal of Honor

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS STANLEY R. CHRISTIANSON
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hill 132, Seoul, Korea, in the early morning hours of 29 September 1950. Manning one of the several listening posts covering approaches to the platoon area when the enemy commenced the attack, Private First Class Christianson quickly sent another Marine to alert the rest of the platoon. Without orders, he remained in his position and, with full knowledge that he would have slight chance of escape, fired relentlessly at oncoming hostile troops attacking furiously with rifles, automatic weapons and incendiary grenades. Accounting for seven enemy dead in the immediate vicinity before his position was overrun and he himself fatally struck down, Private First Class Christianson, by his superb courage, valiant fighting spirit and devotion to duty, was responsible for allowing the rest of the platoon time to man positions, build up a stronger defense on that flank and repel the attack with 41 of the enemy destroyed, and many more wounded and three taken prisoner. His self-sacrificing actions in the face of overwhelming odds sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Private First Class Christianson gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN

Other Military Medals and Awards

Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation (United States) with 2 Bronze Stars
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia and Europe Clasps
Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars

Burial

Christianson is buried at Wet Coulee Cemetery, Mindoro, WI, in Plot 1-3-7.