b. 02/05/1931 Cambridge, New York. d. 12/09/1951 Songnap-Yong, Korea.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 12/09/1951 Songnap-Yong, Korea.
Frederick W Mausert MOH
Frederick William Mausert, III was born to Frederick and Gwen Mausert on May 2, 1930, in Cambridge, New York. Nicknamed “Rick” by his family, friends, and acquaintances, he went to elementary school at Union School in Cambridge, and Brooklyn, New York. After his parents divorced, he attended high school in Monson, Massachusetts, where he played baseball, track, and basketball. He lived in Dresher, Pennsylvania and was employed by Glenside Hardware, Glenside, Pennsylvania.
Mausert enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 21, 1948. Following recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, he was stationed at Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before being sent to Korea in 1951. In Korea, he was assigned as a squad leader with B Company, 2nd Platoon, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
On September 10, 1951, he was wounded in action. On September 12, he was killed in action near Songnap-yong, South Korea, on Hill 673. Mausert had run through an enemy mined area under fire to bring to safety two seriously wounded Marines and suffered a head wound. Refusing evacuation, he led his squad and platoon in a bayonet charge up the hill by his rifle company against enemy bunkers and emplacements and was wounded again. He destroyed two machinegun positions with hand grenades. He was killed spearheading his platoon’s attack on the remaining North Korean bunkers on the hill which they then overran. On January 3, 1952, Sgt. Mausert was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
On September 4, 1952, Mausert’s mother, Gwen Mausert Barnes, was presented with her son’s posthumous Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the Pentagon from the Secretary to the Navy, Dan A. Kimball.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader in Company B, in action against enemy aggressor forces. With his company pinned down and suffering heavy casualties under murderous machine-gun, rifle, artillery, and mortar fire laid down from heavily fortified, deeply entrenched hostile strongholds on Hill 673, Sgt. Mausert unhesitatingly left his covered position and ran through a heavily mined and fire-swept area to bring back two critically wounded men to the comparative safety of the lines. Staunchly refusing evacuation despite a painful head wound sustained during his voluntary act, he insisted on remaining with his squad and, with his platoon ordered into the assault moments later, took the point position and led his men in a furious bayonet charge against the first of a literally impregnable series of bunkers. Stunned and knocked to the ground when another bullet struck his helmet, he regained his feet and resumed his drive, personally silencing the machine gun and leading his men in eliminating several other emplacements in the area. Promptly reorganizing his unit for a renewed fight to the final objective on top of the ridge, Sgt. Mausert boldly left his position when the enemy’s fire gained momentum and, making a target of himself, boldly advanced alone into the face of the machine gun, drawing the fire away from his men and enabling them to move into position to assault. Again severely wounded when the enemy’s fire found its mark, he still refused aid and continued spearheading the assault to the topmost machine-gun nest and bunkers, the last bulwark of the fanatic aggressors. Leaping into the wall of fire, he destroyed another machine gun with grenades before he was mortally wounded by bursting grenades and machine-gun fire. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sgt. Mausert, by his fortitude, great personal valor, and extraordinary heroism in the face of almost certain death, had inspired his men to sweep on, overrun, and finally secure the objective. His unyielding courage throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 12, GRAVE 5559.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
