Eugene Pete Monforton
Corporal, U.S. Army

In October 1951, Corporal Eugene Pete Monforton was serving with an Infantry Company of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 3 October, CPL Monforton's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Chorwon, North Korea. On that night the company of which CPL Monforton was a member was occupying defensive positions on a recently captured hill when a large enemy force launched a counterattack. Occupying a forward position in the defense perimeter, CPL Monforton opened fire with his machine-gun as soon as the enemy came into view. He raked the forward elements of the attacking force with heavy fire, causing the hostile troops to disperse and seek cover. Since CPL Monforton's position was the site from which most of the firepower was being directed against them, the enemy soldiers concentrated their counterfire on it and began to throw numerous grenades. One of the grenades exploded but, despite his wounds, CPL Monforton remained at his post, throwing grenades at the enemy while attempting to clear his weapon, which had malfunctioned as a result of the explosion. Getting the machine-gun back into operation, he resumed firing at the enemy before him until he collapsed and died of his wounds. The large number of casualties inflicted by CPL Monforton's fire effectively halted the hostile attack and enabled his comrades to repulse the enemy force with a minimum of casualties. CPL Monforton's courageous and selfless actions 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 Eugene P. Monforton (ASN: US-56092192), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with an Infantry Company of the 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Corporal Monforton distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chorwon, Korea, on the night of 3 October 1951. On that night the company of which Corporal Monforton was a member was occupying defensive positions on a recently captured hill when a large enemy force launched a determined counterattack. Occupying a forward position in the defense perimeter, Corporal Monforton opened fire with his machine-gun as soon as the enemy came into view. With deadly accuracy, he raked the forward elements of the attacking force, causing the hostile troops to disperse and seek cover. Realizing that Corporal Monforton's position was the site from which the major portion of the firepower being directed against them originated, the enemy soldiers concentrated a heavy volume of counterfire on it and began to hurl numerous grenades. One of these grenades exploded, but despite his wounds, Corporal Monforton steadfastly remained at his post, alternately throwing grenades at the enemy and attempting to clear his weapon, which had malfunctioned as a result of the explosion. Putting the machine-gun back into operation, he resumed firing at the milling enemy before him until he collapsed and died of his wounds. The numerous casualties inflicted by Corporal Monforton's deadly fire effectively halted the hostile attack and enabled his comrades to repulse the foe with a minimum of casualties.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 132 (March 6, 1952)

Burial

Corporal Eugene Pete Monforton is buried at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, Gallatin County, MT, in Plot: NEW 35 45.

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