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Luther Herschell Story |
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Engagements: • Korean War (1950 - 1953) |
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Biography: | ||||
Luther Herschell Story Luther Herschell Story was born on 20 July 1931, at Buena Vista, GA. A Private First Class in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he was a weapons squad leader with Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. On 1 September 1951 near Agok, South Korea, his company was nearly encircled by overwhelming enemy forces. He saw a large group of the enemy crossing the Naktong River to attack his position. He took a machine-gun from a wounded comrade and attacked, killing nearly 100 enemy. He then singlehandedly attacked an enemy truck with grenades. Badly wounded, he directed his squad to withdraw, while he covered its withdrawal. He was last seen fighting the enemy in hand to hand combat. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on 1 September 1950. He was also promoted to Corporal. Medals, Awards & Badges Medal of Honor Medal of Honor Citation Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division Place and date: Near Agok, Korea, 1 September 1950 Entered service at: Georgia G.O. No.: 70, 2 August 1951 Pfc. Story, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. A savage daylight attack by elements of 3 enemy divisions penetrated the thinly held lines of the 9th Infantry. Company A beat off several banzai attacks but was bypassed and in danger of being cut off and surrounded. Pfc. Story, a weapons squad leader, was heavily engaged in stopping the early attacks and had just moved his squad to a position overlooking the Naktong River when he observed a large group of the enemy crossing the river to attack Company A. Seizing a machine gun from his wounded gunner he placed deadly fire on the hostile column killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers. Facing certain encirclement the company commander ordered a withdrawal. During the move Pfc. Story noticed the approach of an enemy truck loaded with troops and towing an ammunition trailer. Alerting his comrades to take cover he fearlessly stood in the middle of the road, throwing grenades into the truck. Out of grenades he crawled to his squad, gathered up additional grenades and again attacked the vehicle. During the withdrawal the company was attacked by such superior numbers that it was forced to deploy in a rice field. Pfc. Story was wounded in this action, but, disregarding his wounds, rallied the men about him and repelled the attack. Realizing that his wounds would hamper his comrades he refused to retire to the next position but remained to cover the company's withdrawal. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault. Private Story's extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service. Burial Corporal Luther Herschell Story was killed in action on 1 September 1950. His remains were never recovered. A cenotaph for Corporal Story is located at Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville, Sumter County, GA, at Section MA-6, Grave 9. Corporal Story is also listed on the "Wall of the Missing" at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, HI. |
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Honoree ID: 1243 | Created by: MHOH |