b. 03/04/1929 Worthington, Kentucky. d. 19/09/1950 Chindong-ni, Korea.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 19/09/1950 Chindong-ni, Korea.
John W Collier MOH
Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served in the Korean War in the United States Army as a Corporal in Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery near Chindong-ni, Korea, on September 19, 1950. On 21 June 1951, his posthumous Medal of Honor was presented to his father at The Pentagon by General Omar N. Bradley.
MOH CITATION:
Cpl. Collier, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While engaged in an assault on a strategic ridge strongly defended by a fanatical enemy, the leading elements of his company encountered intense automatic weapons and grenade fire. Cpl. Collier and 3 comrades volunteered and moved forward to neutralize an enemy machine gun position which was hampering the company’s advance, but they were twice repulsed. On the third attempt, Cpl. Collier, despite heavy enemy fire and grenade barrages, moved to an exposed position ahead of his comrades, assaulted and destroyed the machine gun nest, killing at least 4 enemy soldiers. As he returned down the rocky, fire-swept hill and joined his squad, an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Shouting a warning to his comrades, he, selflessly and unhesitatingly, threw himself upon the grenade and smothered its explosion with his body. This intrepid action saved his comrades from death or injury.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 12, GRAVE 4637
LOCATION OF MEDAL: HIGHLANDS MUSEUM AND DISCOVERY CENTER, ASHLAND, ARKANSAS.
