Richard Tarlton Smock
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

In June 1951, First Lieutenant Richard Tarlton Smock was serving with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 6 June, 1LT Smock's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Chollyon-Dong, North Korea. 1LT Smock was directing Company I in an effort to consolidate friendly defensive positions in an area just captured from the enemy when the hostile troops launched a fierce counterattack. Still holding its positions, the Company was hard-pressed but, under the leadership of 1LT Smock, the men refused to give ground. As the battle raged, 1LT Smock observed that the friendly troops holding the left flank of Company I's position were becoming disorganized under the pressure of repeated assaults by the numerically superior enemy. Seeing that an enemy breakthrough was imminent, he rushed to that sector shouting words of encouragement to the troops and attempting to reorganize them. Observing an enemy machine-gun emplacement that had been overlooked in the previous attack, 1LT Smock neutralized it with a grenade and ordered his troops to set up a machine-gun in the position. Due to the language barrier that existed, many of 1LT Smock's commands were being misinterpreted, so he set about to illustrate them by personal example. Standing exposed to the intense enemy fire, he killed and wounded seven of the on-rushing enemy with his carbine. Inspired by his courage, the friendly troops regrouped and successfully defended their positions. 1LT Smock continued to direct the men until he was mortally wounded by hostile fire. 1LT Smock's courageous actions and inspiring leadership 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
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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard T. Smock (ASN: 0-59500), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Smock distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chollyon-Dong, Korea, on 6 June 1951. On that date, Lieutenant Smock was directing his company in an effort to consolidate friendly defensive positions in an area just captured from the enemy when the hostile troops launched a fierce counterattack. Still holding its positions, the company was hard-pressed but, under the inspiring leadership of Lieutenant Smock, the men refused to give ground. As the battle raged, Lieutenant Smock observed that the friendly troops holding the left flank of Company I's position were threatening to become disorganized under the pressure of repeated assaults by the numerically superior enemy. Realizing that an enemy breakthrough was imminent unless immediate action was taken, he rushed to that sector, shouting words of encouragement to the troops and attempting to reorganize them. Observing an enemy machine-gun emplacement that had been overlooked in the previous attack, Lieutenant Smock neutralized it with a grenade and called to the friendly troops to set up a machine-gun in the position. Because of the language barrier that existed, many of Lieutenant, Smock's commands were being misinterpreted, so he set about to illustrate them by personal example. Standing exposed to the intense enemy fire, he killed and wounded seven of the on-rushing enemy with his carbine. Inspired by his fearlessness, the friendly troops regrouped and successfully defended their positions. Lieutenant Smock continued to direct and encourage them until he was mortally wounded by hostile fire.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 878 (November 12, 1951)

Burial

First Lieutenant Richard Tarlton Smock is buried at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery in Fort Riley, Geary County, KS, in Plot: E, 126.

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