James Hobart Jefferson
Private First Class, U.S. Army

James Hobart Jefferson is the son of Othel and Mary A.M. Blake Jefferson.

In July 1950, Private First Class James Hobart Jefferson was serving as a Light Weapons Infantryman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 21 July, PFC Jefferson's unit was engaged with enemy forces in South Korea, when positions of the 2nd Platoon, Company F, became untenable due to penetration by numerically superior enemy forces. PFC Jefferson voluntarily remained in his position to cover the withdrawal of his Platoon. He delivered a volume of accurate automatic rifle fire on the enemy, slowing them and enabling the rest of his Platoon to move to new positions. During this selfless, heroic action PFC Jefferson was killed. His heroism and self-sacrifice to save others 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 Private First Class James H. Jefferson (ASN: RA-15274687), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Private First Class Jefferson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 21 July 1950. On that date positions of the 2d platoon, Company F, became untenable due to penetration by numerically superior enemy forces. Private First Class Jefferson, without regard to his personal safety, voluntarily remained in his position to cover the withdrawal of his platoon. He delivered a volume of accurate automatic rifle fire on the enemy, slowing the enemy and enabling the rest of his platoon to successfully withdraw to new positions. In this heroic action Private First Class Jefferson was killed.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 15 (August 1, 1950)

Burial

Private First Class James Hobart Jefferson is buried at Gwinn Cemetery in Cabell County, WV.

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