Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    15th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    June 23, 1951

    Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, Korea, General Orders No. 649 (August 18, 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 Franklin Paul Dickson (ASN: RA-16335965), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Private First Class Dickson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Sobangsan, Korea, on 23 June 1951. Company B, assigned the mission of attacking and securing Hill 717 from a firmly entrenched hostile force, was moving forward up the slope when it was suddenly pinned down by intense and accurate fire from an enemy automatic-weapons position. Private Dickson, realizing that his comrades faced possible annihilation unless aggressive action was taken, unhesitatingly left his, position of comparative safety and charged forward through the devastating enemy fire toward the hostile emplacement. After successfully killing the enemy machine-gun crew and capturing their weapon, he immediately turned it on the enemy positions and commenced firing. Completely demoralized by Private Dickson’s heroic actions, the hostile troops broke in the face of his devastating fire and fled from their positions, allowing the friendly forces to seize the objective. During the night, the enemy launched a fiercely determined counterattack to regain the lost ground and Private Dickson, courageously defending his position, was killed in the bitter fighting that ensued. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Private First Class Dickson reflects the highest credit upon himself and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.