Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    January 13, 1951

    Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, Korea, General Orders No. 581 (July 24, 1951)

    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 Elmer E. Lewellyn (ASN: ER-6142686), 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, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Private First Class Lewellyn distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Oneamsong, Korea, on 13 January 1951. On that date, Company E was defending a key terrain feature in the Wonju area when a numerically superior enemy force launched several fanatical attacks against the company positions. In the initial attack, Private Lewellyn, a newly assigned replacement that had joined the company the preceding day, was thrown from his foxhole by the force of an enemy concussion grenade that exploded near his position. Quickly recovering from the shock of the blast, he crawled back to his position and aided in repulsing the attack by placing withering fire on the enemy. When the enemy troops rallied and launched a second attack, Private Lewellyn, heedless of the intense enemy fire, moved from one position to another in order to gain a better field of fire and thus inflict greater casualties on the enemy. Although seriously wounded during the second enemy assault, Private Lewellyn refused to retire for medical attention. When the enemy closed in for the third and final assault, Private Lewellyn leaped from his foxhole and stood fully exposed to the hostile fire, yelling taunts at the enemy and shouting words of encouragement to his comrades. During the final assault, enemy troops approached to within a few yards of Private Lewellyn’s position but he steadfastly refused to fall back and killed several enemy soldiers at his position before he fell mortally wounded. Inspired by the intrepid courage and self sacrifice of Private Lewellyn, his comrades tenaciously held their positions, inflicted tremendous casualties on the enemy and successfully repelled the hostile assaults. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Private First Class Lewellyn on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.