Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    223d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    40th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    July 19, 1953

    Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, Korea, General Orders No. 3 (January 1, 1954)

    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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard S. Agnew (ASN: 0-1925377), 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, 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Agnew distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Mundung-ni, Korea, on 19 July 1953. On that date, Lieutenant Agnew was serving as the leader of a combat patrol operating far ahead of the United Nations main line of resistance when he and the assistant patrol leader fell from a cliff. Although his ankle was painfully injured and he was in enemy territory, Lieutenant Agnew ordered the patrol to return to friendly lines and establish plans to rejoin allied forces the following evening. The following night, Lieutenant Agnew and his comrade scaled the cliff and proceeded toward United Nations territory. When challenged by an enemy soldier, Lieutenant Agnew ignored his weakened condition, engaged him in hand to hand combat and killed him with his own weapon. Hearing other enemy forces advancing, Lieutenant Agnew then pulled the pin on his remaining hand grenade and tied it to his hand before falling to the ground in exhaustion. He was later found in a semi-conscious condition by a United Nations patrol. The extraordinary heroism exhibited by Lieutenant Agnew on this occasion reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.