Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    7th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    3d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    February 4, 1951

    Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, Korea, General Orders No. 1001 (December 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 Robert Eugene Graf (ASN: RA-27714904), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Private First Class Graf distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Changpyongdong, Korea, on 4 February 1951. On that date, his company was engaged in a limited withdrawal because of the unrelenting pressure of a numerically superior hostile force. As the friendly troops fell back, constantly harassed by enemy small-arms and automatic-weapons fire, Private Graf, with a total disregard for his personal safety, moved across the fire-swept terrain to an exposed position in order to provide covering fire with his automatic rifle. He was instantly hit by enemy machine-gun fire. Although seriously wounded, he crawled toward a nearby enemy-manned emplacement and destroyed it with an accurately hurled grenade. His actions drew the fire of a second enemy emplacement and, upon ascertaining its location, he rose painfully to his feet and fired a burst into the machine-gun position, killing three of the four enemy soldiers and successfully neutralizing the weapon. His courageous action was responsible for silencing the enemy weapons which posed the major threat to his comrades thus enabling the friendly force to withdraw with a minimum of casualties. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Private First Class Graf reflects the highest credit upon himself and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.