Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    19th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    24th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    October 13 & 14, 1951

    Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, Korea, General Orders No. 90 (February 12, 1952)

    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) Clair Walter Jennett (ASN: 0-2209125), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Platoon Leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Jennett distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Pyaru, Korea, on 13 and 14 October 1951. On that date, the friendly force, of which Lieutenant Jennett was a member, launched an attack against a series of heavily fortified enemy positions on a strategic slope. After a fierce battle, the hostile force was routed from the hill and the friendly troops immediately set up a defense perimeter facing the direction from which the inevitable enemy counterattack would come. The enemy assault began with an intense mortar barrage, followed by wave after wave of hostile troops. For two hours, the friendly force beat back the charging enemy, but, with their ammunition all but exhausted, they received the order to withdraw. As they fell back, the enemy came charging over the crest of the hill and brought a deadly volume of fire to bear on the friendly troops, who sought what cover they could on the barren slope. Realizing that the enemy was determined to annihilate the friendly force and that he was the only platoon leader left, Lieutenant Jennett quickly organized the men about him and led them in a savage bayonet charge which met the enemy head-on. So unexpected was this furious action, that it completely disorganized the hostile assault. Repeatedly, he led his men against the weakest point in the enemy line and engaged the foe in hand-to-hand combat. When Lieutenant Jennett observed two enemy machine-guns firing into his men, he maneuvered around behind them and, disregarding his personal safety, he charged across the exposed terrain and destroyed both emplacements with well-aimed grenades. His fearless action demoralized the hostile force to such an extent that they abandoned their weapons. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant Jennett on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.