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 pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Manuel Hernandez Flores, Jr. (ASN: RA-19300786), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a flame-thrower operator with Company H, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Corporal Flores distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chin-ag-ne, Korea, on 19 September 1951. On that date, a friendly force, arranged in a defensive perimeter in an area just taken from the enemy, was counterattacked by a numerically superior force of hostile troops. Corporal Flores observed several of his comrades become casualties from the intense enemy fire. Unhesitatingly he put his weapon aside and moved across the exposed terrain to aid them. After tending to the stricken men and assisting in their evacuation, Corporal Flores picked up a rifle and engaged the enemy. His unit fought furiously but, because of the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, it was ordered to withdraw to more tenable positions. Upon being informed of this, Corporal Flores voluntarily assumed command of a squad and led it to a site directly in the path of the on-rushing foe to fight a rear-guard covering action. From this point, his small group swept the enemy with a devastating fire, pinning them down momentarily and thus permitting the remainder of his unit to complete its withdrawal. Corporal Flores then ordered his squad to move to safety and, resisting all of his comrades’ pleas to withdraw himself, he steadfastly remained at his post, delivering deadly accurate fire until his position was overrun and he was mortally wounded. As a result of his self-sacrifice, the friendly force was able to reestablish a defense line which saved it from possible annihilation. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Corporal Flores on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.

Awards Received