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 Sergeant First Class Richard Vern Anderson (ASN: RA-26242415), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with 70th Medium Tank Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. Sergeant First Class Anderson distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chonjamal, Korea, on 29 October 1951. On that date, as United Nations units prepared to launch an assault against a strong hostile force, the tank section, of which Sergeant Anderson was a member, was ordered to proceed to the rear of the enemy entrenchments in order to support a friendly force which was about to engage in a flanking attack. With only one route of approach open to them, the friendly tanks moved boldly toward the objective but they were soon stopped by a wide minefield which was being continually raked by enemy automatic weapons fire. Knowing that the friendly attack would fail without the planned support of the tanks, Sergeant Anderson fearlessly dismounted from his vehicle and, with the help of two comrades, began clearing a path through the field by digging up the mines, one by one. As he moved with caution across the hazardous terrain, he directed the fire of the tanks behind him against the hostile emplacement, but still the enemy fire continued to hit all about him. With the field cleared and thirty-five of the enemy lying dead, through his skillful fire direction, Sergeant Anderson climbed into his tank once more and led the section to a strategic ridge from which effective fire was placed on the hostile force occupying the hill. So devastating was the fire he directed in support of the friendly troops that the enemy soldiers attacked the tanks repeatedly in a frantic effort to silence them. Eventually, the desperate fire of the foe caused Sergeant Anderson’s tank to burst in flames. Although seriously wounded by enemy small-arms fire and shell fragments, he left the tank and extinguished the blaze. Then, refusing medical attention, he directed the section to a new position from which they continued their deadly accurate fire. Only when his was assured that the objective had been secured, did he allow himself to be evacuated for treatment. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Sergeant First Class Anderson on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.

Awards Received