Nicholas Nick Gombos
Captain, U.S. Army

Nicholas Nick Gombos was born on 18 January 1920 in Kern County, CA, the son of Nikitas M. and Stephanie M. Gombos, both of whom were born in Greece. Nicholas attended schools in the Bakersfield, CA, area.

In April 1942, Nick was Assistant Manager of Special Service Transportation in Bakersfield, a company managed by his father, when he enlisted in the U.S Army and was trained as an Airplane Mechanic and Technician in the Army Air Forces. He received his training in Texas. After World War II, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in the Army.

On 1 September 1950, now-First Lieutenant Bombos was serving with Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy at Am-Dong, Korea. He was at a Forward Observation Post directing operations and tactical maneuvering of his Battalion, that was under attack by a numerically superior enemy force. The force of the enemy onslaught was routing troops in a disorganized manner and threatening success of the initial defense. 1LT Gombos intercepted the withdrawing troops, reorganized them, and led them in a counterattack against the enemy. His troops then manned their original positions and stopped the enemy advance. Later that day, 1LT Gombos observed that one of his men was lying wounded in the line of enemy small arms and mortar fire, so he dashed forward to assist the soldier. A burst from an enemy machine gun struck 1LT Gombos in the head, rendering him unconscious. After treatment at the aid station, 1LT Gombos, realizing the dire need for officers in his Battalion, refused evacuation and returned to his duties, despite his wound. His gallantry and unremitting devotion to duty earned him the U.S. Army's third highest award for valor, the Silver Star Medal.

On 16 September 1950, 1LT Gombos was serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in South Korea. He was seriously wounded by the enemy that day and was awarded his second Silver Star for gallantry in action. He returned to duty on 21 October.

On 26-27 November, now-Captain Gombos was serving as Company Commander of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, engaged with enemy forces near Unbong-dong, North Korea. CPT Gombos' company was occupying a front of more than 2000 yards in rugged mountainous terrain with under-strength platoons deployed several hundred yards apart to cover all natural routes of enemy approach. At about 2320 hours, the enemy attacked and encircled the two forward platoons, overrunning the right flank of the support platoon, and subjecting the command post to heavy mortar, machine-gun and small-arms fire. After reconnoitering the situation, CPT Gombos radioed his battalion commander for assistance and then, traversing the line of the support platoon, led a counterattack to reestablish the right flank. Returning to the command post, he organized all available men and rushed them into the line to reinforce the support platoon. When the mortar platoon leader was wounded, CPT Gombos ordered the 60-mm mortars moved to his command post where he directed retaliation fire that, inflicted heavy casualties and repulsed the attack.

On 30 November 1950, while in another battle in North Korea, CPT Gombos was listed as Missing in Action. On 11 February 1954 his status was changed to Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered with the date of death 30 November 1950.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory 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 Captain (Infantry) Nicholas N. Gombos (ASN: 0-63100), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Captain Gombos distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Unbong-dong, Korea, on 26 and 27 November 1950. On that date, Captain Gombos' company was occupying a front of more than 2000 yards in rugged mountainous terrain with under strength platoons deployed several hundred yards apart to cover all natural routes of enemy approach. At approximately 2320 hours, the enemy attacked in great strength, encircling the two forward platoons, overrunning the right flank of the support platoon, and subjecting the command post to heavy mortar, machine-gun and small-arms fire. After reconnoitering the situation, Captain Gombos radioed his battalion commander for assistance and then, traversing the line of the support platoon, rallied and led an inspirational counterattack to reestablish the right flank. Returning to the command post, he organized all available men and rushed them into the line to reinforce the support platoon. When the mortar platoon leader was wounded, Captain Gombos ordered the 60-mm. mortars moved to his command post and, calmly directing retaliation fire, inflicted heavy casualties and repulsed the attack. Following this action, enemy counter-mortar fire neutralized the 60-mm. mortars, wounding several men. On 27 November 1950, at approximately 0200 hours, the enemy secured the crest of a high hill on the extreme right flank of the company, overlooking the command post, and brought three mortars to bear on the company's 81-mm. mortars, neutralizing them and leaving the company without mortar support. Captain Gombos constantly braved withering fire as he moved among his men, directing and encouraging them and, dominating and controlling the critical situation through sheer force of his heroic example, succeeding in warding off the enemy throughout the night. At daybreak, Captain Gombos rallied and regrouped his depleted unit and led it in a daring, determined attack against the newly-acquired hostile positions, routing the enemy from the hill and regaining the strategic strongpoint.

General Orders: General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 223 (September 2, 1951)

Memorialization

The remains of Captain Nicholas Nick Gombos have never been recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on Court 6 of the Courts of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

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