Melvin Oscar Handrich (January 26, 1919 - August 26, 1950) - US Army soldier, participant in the Korean War . Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 25 and 26, 1950 in the year of the battle for the Busan perimeter . Little Wolf Cemetery is buried in Manawa, Wopack County, Wisconsin .
| Melvin Oscar Handrich | |
|---|---|
| English Melvin Oscar Handrich | |
 | |
| Date of Birth | January 26, 1919 |
| Place of Birth | Manawa , Wisconsin |
| Date of death | August 26, 1950 ( 31) |
| Place of death | near Sobuk-san, Korea |
| Affiliation | U.S. Army |
| Type of army |  U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1942–45; 1949–50 |
| Rank | Master sergeant |
| Part | Rota S, 5th Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | Korean war |
| Awards and prizes |   |
Handrich joined the army in August 1942. He took part in the campaign in the Aleutian Islands , participated in the capture of the island of Kyska . Then, having received parachute training, he went to Europe and took part in battles in Italy , France , Belgium and Germany . He received the Purple Heart medal with two oak leaves and an infantry combat ribbon. In September 1945 he was dismissed from the army. He entered again in January 1949 and was sent to the Far East in March of that year. The medal was awarded to the Handrich family by General Omar Bradley at a ceremony at the Pentagon on June 21, 1951 [1] .
On August 4, 1969, the complex of buildings of the 83rd artillery battalion in Anyang-ni was named in honor of Handrich [2] .
Award entry
General orders: army department, general orders No. 60 (August 2, 1951)
Date of the battle: August 25, 1950
Service: Army
Rank: Master Sergeant
Company: Company C
Regiment: Combat Team of the Fifth Infantry Regiment
Division: 1st Cavalry Division
The President of the United States of America, on behalf of Congress, takes the honor of conferring a Medal of Honor on (posthumous) Master Sergeant Melvin Oscar Handrich (ASN: 36258213), the US Army for outstanding courage and bravery shown in the performance of a service duty and beyond while serving in a company From the combat team of the 5th Infantry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division in the battle against the enemy aggressor forces near Mount Sobuk-san, Korea on August 25 and 26, 1950. The company of master sergeant Khandrikh repelled [detachment attack] from about 150 enemy soldiers threatening to seize the position. Around midnight on August 25, an enemy group of over 100 people tried to seep through the perimeter of the company. Despite the dense enemy fire, master sergeant Handrich voluntarily left the relatively safe defense zone and moved to the front line from where he could launch mortar and artillery fire against the advancing enemy. In this post, he remained for eight hours directing fire at an adversary who often found himself within 50 feet of his position. On the morning of August 26, another strong enemy detachment attempted to seize the company’s position. Master Sergeant Handrich, with complete disregard for his own safety, jumped to his feet and opened fire from his rifle from his open position and launched mortar and artillery fire at the attackers. At a key moment in the battle, he saw that his company was about to retreat. Risking his life, he made his way through the shooting range to the defensive zone and there he set a personal example and showed himself to be a strong leader, organized people again to continue the battle. During the battle, Master Sergeant Handrich was seriously injured. Refusing to leave for cover and from evacuation, he returned to his front line and continued to control the fire of the company. Later, the enemy launched a deliberate attack and seized the position of master sergeant Handrich. He was mortally wounded. When the position was recaptured, over 70 corpses of enemy soldiers were found in the area that he defended with such courage. The unshakable personal courage of master sergeant Handrich, unsurpassed courage and noble self-sacrifice brought untold glory to him and the heroic traditions of military service.
Original textThe President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Master Sergeant Melvin Oscar Handrich (ASN: 36258213), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company C, 5th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against enemy aggressor forces at Sobuk San Mountain, Korea, on 25 and 26 August 1950. Master Sergeant Handrich's company was engaged in repulsing an estimated 150 enemy who were threatening to overrun its position. Near midnight on 25 August, a hostile group over 100 strong attempted to infiltrate the company perimeter. Master Sergeant Handrich, despite the heavy enemy fire, voluntarily left the comparative safety of the defensive area and moved to a forward position where he could direct mortar and artillery fire upon the advancing enemy. He remained at this post for eight hours directing fire against the enemy who often approached to within 50 feet of his position. Again, on the morning of 26 August, another strong hostile force made an attempt to overrun the company position. With complete disregard for his safety, Master Sergeant Handrich rose to his feet and from this exposed position fired his rifle and directed mortar and artillery fire on the attackers. At the peak of this action he observed elements of his company preparing to withdraw. He perilously made his way across fire-swept terrain to the defense area where, by example and forceful leadership, he reorganized the men to continue the fight. During the action Master Sergeant Handrich was severely wounded. Refusing to take cover or be evacuated, he returned to his forward position and continued to direct the company fire. Later a determined enemy attack overran Master Sergeant Handrich's position and he was mortally wounded. When the position was retaken, over 70 enemy dead were counted in the area he had so intrepidly defended. Master Sergeant Handrich's sustained personal bravery, consummate courage, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and the heroic traditions of the military service.- [3]
Notes
- ↑ "Badger, Killed in Korea, Gets Medal of Honor," Capital Times, Madison, Wisconsin, Monday, June 6, 1951; "Award Medal of Honor to Wisconsin Sergeant," Sheboygan Press, Monday, June 18, 1951; "Wisconsin Soldier Awarded Nation's Medal of Honor for Heroic Death," Wisconsin State Journal, Monday, June 18, 1951.
- ↑ Memorandum, HQ, Eighth Army, Semi-Annual Chronology (July – December 1969) .
- ↑ Valor awards for Melvin Oscar Handrich . Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War . United States Army Center of Military History (June 8, 2009). Date of treatment December 19, 2011.
Links
- Melvin O. Handrich . Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War . United States Army Center of Military History (June 8, 2009). Date of treatment December 31, 2007.
- Roy E. Appleman, South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu. Chapter XX, Stalemate West of Masan. United States Army in the Korean War. CMH Pub 20-2-1.