Robert Donald Ivison
Private First Class, U.S. Army

In May 1951, Private First Class Robert Donald Ivison was a Light Weapons Infantryman serving with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 20 May, PFC Ivison's unit was assigned to I Corps, which was launching the United Nations Spring Offensive in the vicinity of Chonjo-ri, Korea. Company E was given the mission of attacking and securing the position of a well-entrenched enemy force holding Hill 198. Moving in a frontal assault up the hill, the unit was pinned down by heavy enemy small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. As the enemy began to roll grenades down among the men, PFC Ivison saw that both the platoon leader and platoon sergeant had been wounded and he knew that his comrades must move from their position on the slope, or face annihilation. He jumped up from his position and rushed through the enemy fire toward a hostile machine-gun emplacement, all the while shouting words of encouragement to the men and urging them forward. PFC Ivison killed the two enemy machine gunners with his automatic rifle, and although mortally wounded in his charge up the hill, he continued to fire at the now retreating enemy. His heroic actions so inspired the men that they charged up the slope, routing the enemy from their position. His heroism and inspirational leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards & 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 Private First Class Robert Donald Ivison (ASN: RA-12284786), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Ivison distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chonjo-ri, Korea, on 20 May 1951. On that date, Private Ivison's company was given the mission of attacking and securing the position of a well-entrenched and fanatically determined enemy force holding Hill 198. Moving in a frontal assault up the hill, the unit was pinned down by intense and accurate enemy small-arms and automatic-weapons fire. As the enemy began to roll grenades down among the group, Private Ivison, observing that both the platoon leader and platoon sergeant had been wounded, realized that his comrades must move from their precarious position on the slope or face annihilation. Jumping up from his position, he rushed through the accurate, point-blank enemy fire toward a hostile machine-gun emplacement, shouting words of encouragement to his comrades and urging them forward. With his automatic rifle, he killed the two enemy machine gunners and, although mortally wounded in his charge up the hill, he continued to fire at the now retreating enemy. His actions so inspired his comrades that they charged up the slope, routing the enemy from their position.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 615 (5 August 1951)

Burial

Private First Class Robert Donald Ivison is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Syracuse, Onondaga County, NY, in Section 59.

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