Duane Edward Litzinger
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army

In October 1951, then-Private First Class Duane Edward Litzinger was serving as a Squad Leader with Company K, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in Korea.

On 11-12 October,PFC Litzinger's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Mago-ri, Korea. PFC Litzinger's Company K was engaged in an assault against well-fortified enemy emplacements. In the opening phases of the attack, PFC Litzinger was assigned to provide overhead machine-gun fire to support the attacking infantry. The heavy enemy counter-fire soon disabled his weapon and wounded two of his comrades. Exposing himself to the direct observation of the enemy, he moved to the two men and evacuated them to safety. Upon returning to the battle, PFC Litzinger, armed only with his carbine, single-handedly advanced against a hostile automatic-weapon emplacement and killed the crew manning the machine gun. Later, when another attack was launched by the friendly troops, PFC Litzinger, observing that his comrades were pinned down by intense enemy automatic-weapons fire, organized five men and led them against the hostile bunkers. Working their way to within a few yards of the enemy positions, the men assaulted the emplacements with grenades under the direction of PFC Litzinger and destroyed three of them. With the enemy automatic-weapons silenced, the troops of Company K were able to renew their assault and secure their objective. The platoon was immediately arranged in a defense perimeter, with PFC Litzinger and two other men in a forward position. When the enemy counterattack came, PFC Litzinger's emplacement bore the brunt of the assault. Fighting fiercely and with great determination, he held his ground, repulsing the enemy with extremely heavy casualties. His extraordinary heroism and leadership earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

On 6 February 1968, now-Staff Sergeant Litzinger was serving with the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in Kontum Province, South Vietnam.

On that day, SSG Litzinger died while missing in a hostile action where he sustained multiple fragmentation wounds. His body was recovered.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal with 4 Bronze Knots
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Korean Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (Second Award)

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 pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Private First Class Duane E. Litzinger, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Squad Leader with Company K, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class Litzinger distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Mago-ri, Korea, on 11 and 12 October 1951. On that date, Private Litzinger's company was engaged in an assault against well-fortified enemy emplacements. In the opening phases of the attack, Private Litzinger was assigned to provide overhead machine-gun fire to support the attacking infantry. The heavy enemy counter-fire soon disabled his weapon and wounded two of his comrades. Exposing himself to the direct observation of the enemy, he fearlessly moved to the two men and evacuated them to safety. Upon returning to the battle Private Litzinger, armed only with his carbine, single-handedly advanced against a hostile automatic-weapon emplacement and killed the crew manning the machine gun. Later, when another attack was launched by the friendly troops, Private Litzinger, observing that his comrades were pinned down by intense enemy automatic-weapons fire, organized five men and led them against the hostile bunkers. Working their way to within a few yards of the enemy positions, the men assaulted the emplacements with grenades under the direction of Private Litzinger and destroyed three of them. With the enemy automatic-weapons silenced, the friendly troops were able to renew their assault and secure their objective. The platoon was immediately arranged in a defense perimeter, with Private Litzinger and two comrades in a forward position. When the fanatical enemy counterattack came, Private Litzinger's emplacement bore the brunt of the assault. Fighting fiercely and with great determination, he held his ground, repulsing the enemy with extremely heavy casualties.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 1003 (December 20, 1951)

Honors

The name Duane E Litzinger is located on Panel 37E Line 60 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Staff Sergeant Duane Edward Litzinger is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 33, Site 8070.

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