Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team

    Division:

    11th Airborne Division

    Action Date:

    March 28, 1951

    Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, Korea, General Orders No. 820 (October 24, 1951)

    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) Earl K. Woolley (ASN: 0-2014809), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company G, 3d Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division. First Lieutenant Woolley distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Parun-ni, Korea, on 28 March 1951. On that date Company G was assigned the mission of attacking Hills 507 and 519, two strongpoints held by a well-entrenched hostile force. In the ensuing action, Lieutenant Woolley led his platoon in a bayonet and grenade assault against the enemy positions. Despite the heavy volume of hostile fire, Lieutenant Woolley took up a position at the head of his men and began hurling grenades at the hostile positions. The enemy troops then began to barrage the friendly platoon with grenades. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Woolley picked up several enemy grenades that landed near his position and threw them among the hostile troops, inflicting heavy casualties. Although painfully wounded by an exploding grenade, he nevertheless led his men forward and closed with the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, successfully securing Hill 507. Refusing evacuation, Lieutenant Woolley was placed in charge of the weapons platoon as the remainder of the company launched an attack against Hill 519, the second phase of the mission. Upon observing that the route of attack was under intense enemy automatic-weapons fire, he immediately organized his platoon, consisting of eleven men, and, supported by machine-gun and mortar fire, led an assault against the hostile emplacements. In this action, two enemy machine-guns were destroyed and twenty-five of the enemy were killed. When four of his men were wounded, Lieutenant Woolley deployed the remaining seven in a perimeter defense and held an important terrain feature until relieved by another unit at dusk. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant Woolley on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.