Richard L. Fleischmann
Private First Class, U.S. Army

On 6 September 1950, PFC Fleischmann was serving as a Medical Aidman with Company H, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea, and that unit was engaged with enemy forces near Changnyong, Korea. PFC Fleischmann was aidman for the machine-gun platoon of Company H. One section of the platoon came under extremely heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, wounding the section leader. PFC Fleischmann ran forward to the gun position, moved the section leader to safety, and treated him. Minutes later, machine-gunner of the weapon was also wounded and he again ran into machine-gun fire to move the man to safety. Although wounded on his second trip to the machine-gun position, PFC Fleischmann used the machine-gun to hold off the enemy so the remainder of the section could reorganize and move to a better position. He continued firing the machine-gun until he was killed. His courage and selfless heroic actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Medical 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 Private First Class Richard L. Fleischmann (ASN: RA-19315957), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Medical Aidman with the 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Private First Class Fleischmann distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Changnyong, Korea, on 6 September 1950. On the afternoon of 6 September 1950, Private First Class Fleischmann was assigned as aidman to the machine-gun platoon of Company H, 23d Infantry Regiment. One section of the platoon came under extremely heavy machine-gun and mortar fire and the section leader was wounded. In spite of concentrated enemy fire on the immediate area, Private Fleischmann ran forward to the gun position, removed the section leader to safety, and rendered medical treatment. A few moments later, the gunner of this weapon was also wounded, and once again he ran into point-blank machine-gun fire and removed this wounded man to safety. Although wounded on the second trip to the machine-gun position, he then took over the machine-gun and held off the enemy so that the remainder of the section could reorganize and move to a better position. He remained in position firing the machine-gun until he was killed.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 320 (May 17, 1951)

Burial

Private First Class Richard L. Fleischmann is buried at New Hill Cemetery in Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, MT.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90631159