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First Name: John

Last Name: Collier

Birthplace: Worthington, KY, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Worthington, KY
Middle Name: Walton



Date of Birth: 03 April 1929

Date of Death: 19 September 1950

Rank: Corporal

Years Served:
John Walton Collier

   
Engagements:
•  Korean War (1950 - 1953)

Biography:

John Walton Collier
Corporal, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient
Korean War

John Walton Collier was born on 3 April 1929 in Worthington, KY. He entered the U.S. Army in Worthington and served during the Korean War. In Korea, Collier was a Corporal in Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division.

On 24 June 1951, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on 19 September 1950, near Chindong-ni, Korea.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Chindong-ni, Korea, 19 September 1950

G.O. No.: 86, 2 August 1951

Citation:

Cpl. Collier, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While engaged in an assault on a strategic ridge strongly defended by a fanatical enemy, the leading elements of his company encountered intense automatic weapons and grenade fire. Cpl. Collier and 3 comrades volunteered and moved forward to neutralize an enemy machine gun position which was hampering the company's advance, but they were twice repulsed. On the third attempt, Cpl. Collier, despite heavy enemy fire and grenade barrages, moved to an exposed position ahead of his comrades, assaulted and destroyed the machine gun nest, killing at least 4 enemy soldiers. As he returned down the rocky, fire-swept hill and joined his squad, an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Shouting a warning to his comrades, he, selflessly and unhesitatingly, threw himself upon the grenade and smothered its explosion with his body. This intrepid action saved his comrades from death or injury. Cpl. Collier's supreme, personal bravery, consummate gallantry, and noble self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.

Other Medals

Purple Heart

Burial

Corporal John Walton Collier was first buried in Korea. He was subsequently moved to Section 12, Grave 4637, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.



Honoree ID: 1143   Created by: MHOH

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