Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    31st Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    7th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    April 18, 1953

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 59 (August 4, 1953)

    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 Private First Class Richard McKinley, 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, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Private First Class McKinley distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Tongun-Gol, Korea, on 18 April 1953. On that date, three friendly platoons launched a determined counterattack against a dominant key terrain feature occupied by two enemy companies. Corporal McKinley, a member of the 1st platoon, and his comrades crawled up the barren slopes and worked their way through gaps in a double-apron wire barrier. As they inched forward on “Angle Finger” to the edge of a thick well-anchored mesh of concertina wire within fifty yards of hostile trenches, grenades and automatic-weapons fire rained down on the valiant group, halting their advance. Realizing the consequences of a stalemate in the exposed position, Corporal McKinley dashed through the fire-swept impact area. After freeing one of the men impaled on the wire, he flung himself across the jagged barricade and shouted for the men to use his body as a bridge. Approximately eighteen men moved forward, one at a time, crossing over to the far side. While in the process of crossing, a machine-gunner stumbled, striking the prone man’s head with the heavy weapon. He stepped back to inquire if Corporal McKinley was badly hurt, but he urged the soldier to try again. In the meantime, two wounded comrades on the forward side returned to the wire block and, being unable to cross over, corporal McKinley assisted them across and successfully evacuated them down the hill to safety. Corporal McKinley’s sustained courage and inspirational actions reflect great credit on himself and uphold the highest traditions of the military service.