Edward Ned Beal
Corporal, U.S. Army

In December 1950, Corporal Edward Ned Beal was serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On the night of 31 December, CPL Beal's unit was engaged by enemy forces in the vicinity of Chudeng-ni, Korea. A Chinese Communist force estimated at one division attacked the 19th Infantry Regiment with the main effort directed at high positions occupied by Company A. Moving his machine-gun to an exposed position, CPL Beal poured fire into the ranks of the enemy, forcing them to withdraw. After a frontal assault by the enemy failed they began moving to the flank for another attempt. Sensing their intention, CPL Beal moved his gun to a better position, set it on free traverse, and caught the attacking enemy unawares. So accurate and devastating was his machine-gun fire that the enemy was again forced back, leaving an estimated 150 dead on the hill in front of his gun. At 0700 hours on 1 January 1951, his company was ordered to withdraw, but CPL Beal voluntarily remained behind, and when last seen by his comrades, was still delivering heavy machine-gunfire onto the enemy. CPL Beal's extraordinary heroic and selfless actions allowed his unit to withdraw with minimal casualties. This earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Edward N. Beal (ASN: RA-19322870), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Corporal Beal distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Chudeng-ni, Korea, on the night of 31 December 1950. On that date, a Chinese Communist force estimated at one division attacked the 19th Infantry Regiment. The main enemy effort was directed at high positions occupied by Company A. Moving his machine-gun to an exposed position, Corporal Beal poured withering fire into the ranks of the enemy, forcing them to withdraw. Unable to gain their objective by a frontal assault, the enemy began moving to the flank to make another attempt. Sensing their intention, Corporal Beal moved his gun to a more advantageous position, set it on free traverse, and caught the attacking enemy unawares. So accurate and devastating was his machine-gun fire that the enemy was again forced back, leaving an estimated 150 dead on the hill in front of his gun. At 0700 hours on 1 January 1951, his company was ordered to withdraw, but Corporal Beal voluntarily remained behind, and when last seen by his comrades, was still delivering heavy machine-gunfire on the enemy.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 138 (March 13, 1951)

Burial

Corporal Edward Ned Beal is buried at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Cochise County, AZ.