b. 26/11/1919 Boise, Idaho. d. 23/10/2005 Jupiter, Florida.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 29/11/1950 near Hagaru-ri, Korea.
Reginald R Myers MOH
Reginald Rodney Myers was born on November 26, 1919, in Boise, Idaho. He received his early schooling and graduated from high school in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, in June 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He attained the rank of cadet colonel in the Reserve Officers Training Corps at the university. On September 1, 1941, he resigned his Army Reserve commission to accept appointment as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
Second Lieutenant Myers completed Marine Officers’ Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, then served as a company commander at the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California.
In June 1942, he joined the Marine Detachment aboard the USS New Orleans for a year duty at sea, during which he fought the Japanese at Guadalcanal, Tulagi, the Eastern Solomons, and Tassafaronga. In July 1943, Captain Myers became commanding officer of the Marine detachment on board the USS Minneapolis and participated in the Gilbert, Marshall, Marianas, and Western Caroline Islands campaigns. He was promoted to first lieutenant in October 1942, and to captain in April 1943. Returning briefly to the United States in October 1944, he was promoted to major in January 1945.
Major Myers again returned to the Pacific area in June 1945, and served with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, during the assault on Okinawa, and in the landing on and occupation of Northern China.
He returned to the United States in May 1946, and served at Mare Island, California, Norfolk, Virginia and Cherry Point, North Carolina. At Cherry Point, he served as Assistant G-4, Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, from August 1948 until May 1950. Ordered to Korea in July 1950, Major Myers served as executive officer, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his part in the Inchon landing on September 15, 1950, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V,” and for his heroism in helping to rescue two wounded Marines four days later he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star Medal. Although he emerged unscathed from the Hagaru-ri engagement which earned him the Medal of Honor, he was wounded in action on April 25, 1951. He received his Medal on October 29, 1951 at The White House from President Harry S. Truman.
Major Myers returned to the United States in June 1951. That August he reported to the Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, as a battalion commander. While stationed at Quantico, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1951. Assigned next to Washington, D. C., Lieutenant Colonel Myers served as Inspector-Instructor of the 5th Special Infantry Battalion, USMCR, from September 1952 through August 1953; and Inspector-Instructor, 13th Infantry Battalion, USMCR, from September 1953 through July 1955. Following this assignment, he entered the Senior School at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, and completed the course in June 1956. Lieutenant Colonel Myers remained at Quantico until April 1958, serving as commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, and executive officer, Basic School, respectively.
From July 1958 until August 1961, he was assigned as assistant naval attache at the American Embassy in London, England. During this assignment, he was promoted to colonel in July 1960. In September 1961, Colonel Myers was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, serving as head, International Plans Section, Strategic Plans Division, until June 1963. The following month, he joined the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa for duty as troop exercise coordinator until June 1964. Upon his return to the United States, he completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in July 1965. He received his Master of Science degree in business administration from The George Washington University in September 1965. Colonel Myers was assigned duty at Headquarters Marine Corps with the G–L Division in August 1965. He served briefly as director, Marine Corps Personnel Research and Analysis Office, then as executive officer to the assistant chief of staff, G–L.
Colonel Myers retired from active duty in the Marine Corps on May 1, 1967. He died on October 23, 2005, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer of the 3d Battalion, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assuming command of a composite unit of Army and Marine service and headquarters elements totaling approximately 250 men, during a critical stage in the vital defense of the strategically important military base at Hagaru-ri, Maj. Myers immediately initiated a determined and aggressive counterattack against a well-entrenched and cleverly concealed enemy force numbering an estimated 4,000. Severely handicapped by a lack of trained personnel and experienced leaders in his valiant efforts to regain maximum ground prior to daylight, he persisted in constantly exposing himself to intense, accurate, and sustained hostile fire in order to direct and supervise the employment of his men and to encourage and spur them on in pressing the attack. Inexorably moving forward up the steep, snow-covered slope with his depleted group in the face of apparently insurmountable odds, he concurrently directed artillery and mortar fire with superb skill and although losing 170 of his men during 14 hours of raging combat in subzero temperature, continued to reorganize his unit and spearhead the attack which resulted in 600 enemy killed and 500 wounded. By his exceptional and valorous leadership throughout, Maj. Myers contributed directly to the success of his unit in restoring the perimeter. His resolute spirit of self-sacrifice and unfaltering devotion to duty enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 60, GRAVE 884.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
