Omar Turner Hitchner
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army

On 31 July 1950, then-Major Omar Turner Hitchner was serving as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division, in Korea. On that day, he was seriously wounded by the enemy and returned to duty on 8 August 1950.

On 6 September, MAJ Hitchner's unit was engaged with enemy forces near Singi, Korea. While inspecting the 2nd Battalion's forward position, MAJ Hitchner noticed that the enemy, having complete control of terrain and observation, were rendering one section of his defense line untenable by a heavy barrage of well-directed fire. In order to continue operations, he knew that the unit in his sector would have to shift position and regain fire superiority. So he exposed himself to extremely heavy enemy fire in order to draw the attention of the enemy away from his pinned-down unit. To ensure the success of their deployment, he remained in his exposed, vulnerable position and was mortally wounded. Due to his courage and devotion to duty at the sacrifice of his life, his Battalion was able to successfully complete its mission. This earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Hitchner received a posthumous promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
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 Major (Infantry) Omar T. Hitchner (ASN: 0-291851), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Major Hitchner distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Singi, Korea, on 6 September 1950. While inspecting the battalion's forward position, Major Hitchner noticed that the enemy, having complete domination of terrain and observation, were rendering one section of his defense line untenable through a heavy barrage of well-directed fire. Realizing that in order to continue operations it would be necessary for the unit in his sector to shift position and regain fire superiority, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he personally and unhesitatingly exposed himself to extremely heavy enemy fire in order to draw the attention of the enemy away from his pinned-down unit. To assure that their deployment could be fully accomplished, he remained in his exposed and vulnerable position until he was mortally wounded. Due to this outstanding courage and conspicuous devotion to duty at the supreme sacrifice of his own life, his battalion was able to continue forward to a successful completion of the mission.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 18 (January 12, 1951)

Burial

Lieutenant Colonel Omar Turner Hitchner is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 3, Site 1350-B.

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