Kursen, Samuel Straight

Born on August 4, 1926 in Madison , New Jersey ^[1] . His father William Melville Coursen was the head of the New York accounting firm Haskins & Sell , his mother is nee. Kathleen Howell. Kursen graduated from Newark Academy (New Jersey) in 1945, where he became an experienced athlete ^[2] . In the same year he was awarded an appointment to the US military academy, from which he graduated in 1949.

Upon graduation, Coursen married Evangelina Joy Sprague of Virginia Beach, Virginia , daughter of Albert Sprague, captain of the United States Navy , while head of the fleet ammunition warehouse in Lake Denmark, New Jersey.

After graduating from West Point, Coursen was appointed second lieutenant in the regular army infantry. In August 1950, he attended the basic course of infantry officers at the main land school in Fort Riley, Kansas and the basic courses of paratroopers in Fort Benning , Georgia . In July 1950, he was sent to the Far Eastern Command. On October 6, 1950, he was promoted to first army lieutenant and appointed commander of a platoon of company C, the fifth cavalry regiment of the first cavalry division . The Fifth Cavalry Regiment during the Second World War fought in the Pacific Theater and was stationed in Japan in the post-war years. In July 1950, a few weeks after the start of the Korean War, the regiment was redeployed to Korea .

In the summer of 1950, more and more parts of the United States and the United Nations entered the war, which slowed down the North Korean offensive in South Korea, the Allies kept a bridgehead around Busan in the south-eastern part of the country. On September 15, 1950, UN forces launched an offensive to push the North Korean forces back to the north. During this offensive, Coursen assumed his first combat command.

The First Cavalry Division, located at Kaesong, was ready to cross the 38th parallel and enter North Korea. In the center was the Eighth Cavalry Regiment, preparing to advance along the front of Kaesong on Kumchon, 15 miles north along the main highway axis. The Fifth Cavalry Regiment, where Kursen served, was on the right, and was ready to move east, and then turn west, making a round detour to trap the enemy forces south of Kumcheon. At the same time, the seventh cavalry regiment on the left flank of the division crossed the river Yeson, advancing north along the road from Paekchon to the small town of Hanpo-ri six miles north of Kumcheon, where the main road to Pyongyang crosses the river Ezon and took a blocking position. The Kumcheon area north of Kaesong was defended by the 19th and 27th KPA divisions. The 43rd KPA Division, located in the west, defended the crossing over the Yeson River and the coastal zone across the river.

On October 9, 1950, at 09:00, the first cavalry division as part of the Eighth American Army passed the 38th parallel. Initially, the offensive developed slowly. Along the main road, the eighth regiment periodically stopped and waited for the sappers to clear the road. Halfway to Kumchon, the twelfth regiment stopped at an enemy fortified point defended by tanks, self-propelled guns and anti-aircraft guns. Despite the airstrike squadron of 16 aircraft and shelling of 155-mm howitzers outpost survived.

The Fifth Cavalry Regiment also experienced difficulties with the start of the offensive and was unable to cross the 38th parallel until October 10, 1950. The next day, the first battalion met enemy forces holding a long ridge with several heights (174, 175 and 179) that dominated the pass 15 miles northeast of Kaesong. At noon on October 12, after a fierce battle, the infantrymen managed to throw the enemy off the ridge.

During the battle for the height of 174, Kursen, watching the battle, noticed that one of the men of his platoon who had broken into a well-disguised seemingly undetected fortification was shot down. Kursin rushed to the rescue and joined the enemy in hand-to-hand combat and died. When, after the battle, his body was found, around the fortifications lay seven killed enemy soldiers. Lieutenant Coursen saved the life of a wounded soldier and destroyed the main enemy position that blocked the road. For this feat, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

In the course of further battles, the first cavalry division on October 14, 1950 captured Kumcheon. When the first corps moved to the main enemy positions between the 38th parallel and Pyongyang, the enemy front fell apart. On October 19, Company F of the Fifth Cavalry Regiment entered Pyongyang, the first division of the KPA retreated to the northeast. One of the platoon commanders of Company F was Kussen’s roommate for West Point, Lieutenant John Forest. The next morning, on October 15, 1950, the first division reached the center of the city and without labor seized a well-fortified administrative building. By ten in the morning the whole city was captured ^[3] .

The graduation of the military academy of 1949 suffered greatly from the Korean War. Most were promoted to lieutenant and became platoon commanders. Thirty graduates died in the battles of the Korean War.

Coursen was buried in the graveyard of the US Military Academy at West Point .

On June 15, 1951, the Pentagon announced that Coursen would be awarded the Medal of Honor. On June 21, 1951, at a ceremony at the Pentagon, General of the Army Omar Bradley , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented the Medal of Honor to the 14-year-old son of Kurssen, Samuel Jr. of Morristown.

Title and part: First Lieutenant US Army Company C Fifth Cavalry Regiment First Cavalry Division

Place and date: near Kaesong, Korea October 12, 1950

Entered the service: Madison, N [new] -J [ers]. Born on August 4, 1926, Madison, N [new] -J [ers].

GO No .: 57, 2 August 1951.

First Lieutenant Coursen distinguished himself through outstanding courage and courage in the performance and over-fulfillment of duty in battle. When Company C under heavy enemy small-arms fire attacked a height of 174, its platoon fell under enemy fire from close range. During this phase of the battle, one of his men broke through to a well-camouflaged fortification, which seemed empty and was wounded by an enemy hiding in a fortification. Seeing the soldier who was in trouble, he rushed to his aid and, regardless of personal security, he entered the hand-to-hand fight with the enemy trying to protect his wounded comrade and was killed. When his body was discovered after the battle near the fortifications, 7 bodies of enemies were found. In a fierce battle, First Lieutenant Kursen smashed the heads of several enemies with his rifle. His aggressive and courageous actions saved the life of a wounded comrade, destroyed the enemy position, blocking the road, and strongly inspired the people under his command. The extraordinary heroism and courage of First Lieutenant Kursin reflect his supreme glory and support the revered traditions of military service.

Original Text (Eng.)

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, US Army, Company C 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division

Place and date: Near Kaesong, Korea, October 12, 1950

Entered service at: Madison, NJ Born: August 4, 1926 Madison, NJ

GO No .: 57, August 2, 1951.

1st Lt. Coursen distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above. While he was attacking Hill, his platoon was attacked from close range. The platoon returned the fire and continued to advance. During this phase, it was taken for a moment. In the case of a warrior, he was forced to endorse himself. When his body was recovered, the enemy was found dead in the empt. As the result of 1st Lt. Cours' heads have been crushed with his rifle. The roadblock has been eliminated. 1st Lt. He is a warrior of the military service.

- ^[4]

• In early 1956, the US Army named the new 172-foot 860-ton passenger and transport ferry in honor of Koursen ("Lt. Samuel S. Coursen") operating in New York Bay between Manhattan and the Army Post and the headquarters of the First Army in Fort Jay , Governors Island, New York. When the army left Governor Island in 1966, the ferry continued to serve as the island until 1997 was placed at the disposal of the Coast Guard headquarters. Currently, the ferry owned by the fund of the island continues to serve. At one time, the ferry delivered the heads of state visiting Governor Island and New York City - Elizabeth II during her first visit as queen on October 21, 1957, King of Norway in the early 1990s, Soviet Secretary General Gorbachev to a meeting with President Reagan and President-elect Bush - the oldest on December 7, 1988.
• In September 1951, the leadership of the Newark Academy named the athletic training site in honor of Coursen Memorial Field. When the school moved to Livingston in 1964, the name for the new field was retained.
• At the Museum of the United States Military Academy, Kurssen’s name was noted on a bronze plaque along with the names of graduates who were awarded the Medal of Honor.

• "General History of Samuel S. Coursen" Major General John A. Klein, Adjutant General, US Army. June 4, 1956.

• "SAMUEL S. COURSEN" entry (Undefined) . Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War . United States Army Center of Military History (June 8, 2009). The appeal date is December 30, 2007.

• "Miss Sprague Affianced; Daughter of the Navy Officer; Wed to Cadet SS Coursen", New York Times , May 1, 1949  

• "Officer Wins Top Medal; Save the GI", New York Times , June 16, 1951  

• "Newark Academy to Honor Dead", New York Times , September 13, 1951  

• "First Army Gets Two Ferryboats", New York Times , October 20, 1956