Henry Clay Camp, Jr.
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

In January 1951, First Lieutenant Henry Clay Camp, Jr. was serving as a Platoon Leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in Korea.

On the night of 31 January - 1 February, Company C was occupying positions on Hill 381 near Sagimak, Korea, with the 1st Platoon, commanded by 1LT Camp, occupying positions on a commanding knoll approximately 250 yards in front of the company perimeter. At 0030 hours on 1 February, 1st Platoon was attacked by approximately sixty enemy troops. Sweeping forward in a screaming banzai attack, the enemy completely overran the second squad of the platoon in their effort to reach the summit of the hill. 1LT Camp, under intense enemy fire, remained in position firing his carbine and throwing grenades at the onrushing enemy. During this assault, 1LT Camp personally killed 5 of the enemy and later tabulation revealed 20 enemy dead in the immediate area of the 1st platoon. 1LT Camp's extraordinary heroic actions, combined with his inspiring leadership, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

1LT Camp was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy on the south bank of the Han River in South Korea on 13 February 1951.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal with Combat Valor Device
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) Henry Clay Camp, Jr. (ASN: 0-63031), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Camp distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Sagimak, Korea, on the night of 31 January - 1 February 1951. On that date, Company C was occupying positions on Hill 381 near Sagimak, with the 1st platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Camp, occupying positions on a commanding knoll approximately 250 yards in front of the company perimeter. At 0030 hours on 1 February 1951, the 1st platoon was attacked by approximately sixty enemy troops. Sweeping forward in a screaming banzai attack, the enemy completely overran the second squad of the platoon in their effort to reach the summit of the hill. Displaying outstanding courage and coolness, Lieutenant Camp, with complete disregard for his personal safety and seemingly heedless of the intense enemy fire, remained in position firing his carbine and throwing grenades at the onrushing enemy. During this assault, Lieutenant Camp personally killed five of the enemy and later tabulation revealed twenty enemy dead in the immediate area of the 1st platoon. The fierce defensive fighting and superlative leadership of Lieutenant Camp prevented enemy infiltration of his entire position and resulted in complete dispersal of the enemy.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 329 (May 23, 1951)

Burial

First Lieutenant Henry Clay Camp, Jr. is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Winder, Barrow County, GA.