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R E S T R I C T E D
HEADQUARTERS HQ EIGHTH US ARMY KOREA
CITATION FOR THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
General Orders No. 522 (July 7, 1951)
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to First Lieutenant
Richard W. Durkee, Infantry, United States Army, or extraordinary
heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with
an armed hostile force in the Republic of Korea. First Lieutenant Durkee
a member of Company L, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division
distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the
enemy in the vicinity of Uijongbu, Korea.
On 23 March 1951, while
attacking well defended enemy positions on Hill 221, the 1st Platoon of
Company L was subjected to intense small arms fire and pinned down.
After ordering the remainder of the platoon to furnish covering fire,
Lieutenant Durkee led the 1st squad in an assault on the enemy
entrenchment's.
When his ammunition was expended, Lieutenant Durkee
single-handedly assaulted an enemy position and killed the occupant with
his bayonet. Unable to remove his bayonet from the body of the dead
soldier, he went unarmed to another hostile position, seized an enemy
soldier's rifle by the bayonet, wrested the weapon from his hands and
clubbed him to death. Although his hand was seriously lacerated during
this action, Lieutenant Durkee continued to lead the assault against the
enemy and his men, inspired by the fearlessness of their leader,
overwhelmed the hostile troops and secured the objective.
Lieutenant Durkee's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with
the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit
upon himself, his unit, and the and the United States Army.
R E S T R I C T E D
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