b. 16/08/1926 Cumberland, Maryland. d. 03/07/1952 Korea.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 03/07/1952 Korea.
William E Shuck Jnr MOH
William Edward Shuck Jr. was born August 16, 1926, in Cumberland, Maryland, the second child of William and Reginia Shuck. “Bill” grew up in Ridgeley, a West Virginia town just across the Potomac River from Cumberland and graduated from Ridgeley High School in 1944.
In September 1944 he enlisted in the United States Navy and was a member of the submarine service until his discharge in 1946, after which he worked for Kelly-Springfield Tire Company. He was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and Knobley Mountain Post 136, American Legion, serving as historian. Bill enlisted in the Marines in 1947 and during the next four years served at many duty stations. In January 1952, Bill was sent to Korea, where he was a squad leader of Machine Gun Section, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
On July 3, 1952, Bill, then a staff sergeant, was leading his squad in an assault against a Chinese battalion which was in control of Hill-159 near Panmunjom. After the leader of the squad that Bill’s unit was supporting was wounded, Sergeant Shuck took command of both squads. While leading his command against the Chinese stronghold, he was wounded twice. He refused evacuation and remained to assist with the evacuation of the dead and wounded. While attempting to pick up one end of a stretcher bearing the last wounded Marine to be evacuated, Sergeant Shuck was killed by a sniper.
The body of Staff Sergeant William Edward Shuck was returned to the United States and interred in St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Cumberland, Maryland.
Staff Sergeant William Edward Shuck was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, and on September 9, 1953 it was presented to his widow, Victoria, at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington by Vice President Richard M. Nixon. On the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, a mess hall was named in his honor. In Shuck’s memory, members of the Knobley Mountain Post of the American Legion changed the post’s name to the William E. Shuck Memorial Post.
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 of Company G, in action against enemy aggressor forces. When his platoon was subjected to a devastating barrage of enemy small-arms, grenade, artillery, and mortar fire during an assault against strongly fortified hill positions well forward of the main line of resistance, S/Sgt. Shuck, although painfully wounded, refused medical attention and continued to lead his machine-gun squad in the attack. Unhesitatingly assuming command of a rifle squad when the leader became a casualty, he skillfully organized the two squads into an attacking force and led two more daring assaults upon the hostile positions. Wounded a second time, he steadfastly refused evacuation and remained in the foremost position under heavy fire until assured that all dead and wounded were evacuated. Mortally wounded by an enemy sniper bullet while voluntarily assisting in the removal of the last casualty, S/Sgt. Shuck, by his fortitude and great personal valor in the face of overwhelming odds, served to inspire all who observed him. 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: ST PETERS AND ST PAUL CATHOLIC CEMETERY, CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND.
SECTION K, LOT 7.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: SOLDIER AND SAILORS MEMORIAL HALL & MUSEUM, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
