Samuel Vern Westerman
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

Samuel Vern Westerman was born on 4 April 1927 in Utah, the son of Sydney J. and Mary Westerman. He attended one year of college, and then enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, OK, on 2 August 1946 with the rank of Technician 4th Grade. After serving in Army of Occupation duty for World War II, he entered the Enlisted Reserve Corps. He was then recalled to active duty for service in the Korean War and awarded a commission as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery.

In November 1950, First Lieutenant Westerman was serving as a Forward Field Artillery Observer with Battery A, 38th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm), 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 28 November, 1LT Westerman's unit was engaged with enemy forces near Yong Byong Myon, North Korea, surrounded by a numerically-superior enemy and subjected to devastating hostile fire. Company A was committed to attack, and then consolidate, on high ground. 1LT Westerman skillfully controlled artillery fire, enabling the infantry to advance, overrun enemy positions, and secure the strategic hill. Following this action, 1LT Westerman assumed a forward vantage point exposed to enemy observation in order to direct fire on the threatened area, often bringing the fire to within 100 yards of his location. The enemy later launched a counterattack and 1LT Westerman participated in the encounter, directing artillery fire and firing his carbine and pistol. Engaged in bitter fighting and close hand-to-hand combat, the friendly forces fought tenaciously but, in the face of overwhelming odds, withdrew and yielded the key terrain. Struck by a hostile bullet, 1LT Westerman was given first aid but refused evacuation and returned to the unit. When the Company again assaulted the strongpoint, through 1LT Westerman's expert direction of artillery fire, he laid down a curtain of heavy fire in front of the advancing infantry. After retaking the commanding ground, 1LT Westerman returned to his original position and directed continuous concentrations of fire, stopping only to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. The friendly unit held through three attacks and when ordered to withdraw, 1LT Westerman remained with the rear guard to provide protective fire for the orderly withdrawal of the company, and was Killed in Action. 1LT Westerman's extraordinary heroism and selfless actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

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 First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Samuel V. Westerman (ASN: 0-968477), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Forward Field Artillery Observer with Battery A, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Westerman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Yong Byong Myon, Korea, on 28 November 1950. Surrounded by a numerically superior, ruthless foe and subjected to devastating hostile fire, Company A was committed to attack and consolidate on high ground. Lieutenant Westerman skillfully controlled artillery fire, enabling the infantry to advance, overrun enemy positions, and secure the strategic hill. Immediately following this action, Lieutenant Westerman assumed a forward vantage point exposed to enemy observation to direct fire on the threatened area, often bringing it to within one hundred yards of his location. Later, the enemy launched a ferocious counterattack and Lieutenant Westerman participated in the encounter, fearlessly directing artillery power and firing his carbine and pistol. Engaging in bitter fighting and close hand-to-hand combat, the friendly forces fought tenaciously but, in the face of overwhelming odds, withdrew and yielded the key terrain. Struck by a hostile bullet, Lieutenant Westerman was given first aid but refused evacuation and returned to the unit. When the company again assaulted the strongpoint, through expert direction of artillery support, he laid down a curtain of withering fire in front of the advancing infantry. After retaking the commanding ground, Lieutenant Westerman returned to his original position and directed continuous concentrations of fire, stopping only to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. The friendly unit held through three fanatical attacks and when ordered to withdraw, Lieutenant Westerman remained with the rear guard to provide protective fire for the orderly withdrawal of the company.

General Orders: General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 196 (July 29, 1951)

Memorialization

The remains of First Lieutenant Samuel Vern Westerman have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on Court 8 of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, HI.

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