Navy Federal Credit Union

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 (Field Artillery) Charley L. St. Clair (ASN: 0-1889151), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with an Artillery Battery of the 955th Field Artillery Battalion, 8th U.S. Army. First Lieutenant St. Clair distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Kumhwa, Korea, on the night of 13 July 1953. On that date, Lieutenant St. Clair was serving in an artillery observation post which was subjected to an intense enemy attack. After the hostile forces invaded the trenches in front of his position, Lieutenant St. Clair called for artillery on his own position. With two comrades he then took cover in a nearby bunker. When the enemy began to direct small arms fire and grenades into the bunker, he immediately destroyed the communications equipment and maps and ordered his men to withdraw down the hill. Noticing that one of the men was without his armored vest, Lieutenant St. Clair ordered him to take his. While withdrawing through the combined concentration of artillery fire, Lieutenant St. Clair became separated from his comrades and was surrounded by the enemy. He succeeded in escaping them and remained behind enemy lines for seven days, noting enemy dispositions, while attempting to return to United Nations lines. During this time Lieutenant St. Clair, although ill from an extremely painful hip wound, went without food or sufficient water. On the seventh day he succeeded in reaching safety by swimming a river. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant St. Clair on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.

Awards Received