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Walter C. Monegan, Jr.

Walter Carleton Monegan, Jr. (February 25, 1930 – September 20, 1950) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea, where he gave his life to help repulse an overwhelming enemy tank and infantry attack. He was killed on September 20, 1950, near Seoul, as he calmly stepped out into the heavy fire of an enemy tank-infantry attack and proceeded to methodically knock out the tanks at close range with his bazooka.

The Medal of Honor was presented to his widow by Secretary of the Navy Daniel A. Kimball, during ceremonies on February 8, 1952, in Washington, D.C.

Biography
Decorations
Medal of Honor citation
See also
References
Further reading

Biography

Walter Carleton Monegan, Jr. was born on December 25, 1930 in Melrose, Massachusetts. He attended schools in Malden, Reading, and Walpole, Massachusetts, and in November 1947 (before his seventeenth birthday), enlisted in the Army. He was discharged in January 1948, when his age was discovered, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on March 22, 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland.

After completing his recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, in June 1948, Monegan was ordered to San Francisco, where he sailed for duty in China with the 3rd Marines at Tsingtao.

He returned to the United States in June 1949 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, until June 1950, when he was ordered to the Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Seattle. While in Seattle, Monegan married. His son is Walt Monegan.

He re-enlisted on July 20, 1950, and the following month returned to Camp Pendleton, where he joined the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division.

Monegan shipped out to Korea where he participated in the Inchon landing on September 15, 1950. His unit then moved on toward Seoul. Five days later, as outside of Seoul, near Sosa-ri, he was killed in action while knocking out a tank attack. He was originally buried in Inchon, Korea, but was reinterred on July 19, 1951 in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Decorations

In addition to the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart, his decorations include: the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star; the China Service Medal; and the Korean Service Medal with one bronze star.

60px Medal of Honor
60px Purple Heart
Navy and Marine P.U.C. Presidential Unit Citation with bronze star
60px China Service Medal
60px Korean Service Medal with one bronze star

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WALTER C. MONEGAN, JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rocket Gunner attached to Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces near Sosa-ri, Korea, on 17 and September 20, 1950. Dug in a hill overlooking the main Seoul highway when six enemy tanks threatened to break through the Battalion position during a pre-dawn attack on September 17, Private First Class Monegan promptly moved forward with his bazooka under heavy hostile automatic weapons fire and engaged the lead tank at a range of less than 50 yards. After scoring a direct hit and killing the sole surviving tankman with his carbine as he came through the escape hatch, he boldly fired two more rounds of ammunition at the oncoming tanks, disorganizing the attack and enabling our tank crews to continue blasting with their 90-mm,. guns. With his own and an adjacent company's position threatened by annihilation when an overwhelming enemy tank-infantry force by-passed the area and proceeded toward the battalion Command Post during the early morning of September 20, he seized his rocket launcher and, in total darkness, charged down the slope of the hill where the tanks had broken through. Quick to act when illuminating shell hit the area, he scored a direct hit on one of the tanks as hostile rifle and automatic weapons fire raked the area at close range. Again exposing himself he fired another round to destroy a second tank and, as the rear tank turned to retreat, stood upright to fire and was fatally struck down by hostile machine-gun fire when another illuminating shell silhouetted him against the sky. Private First Class Monegan's daring initiative, gallant fighting spirit and courageous devotion to duty were contributing factors in the success of his company in repelling the enemy and his self-sacrificing efforts throughout sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/ HARRY S. TRUMAN

References

Private First Class Walter C. Monegan, Jr., USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.
PFC Walter C. Monegan, Jr., Medal of Honor, 1950, 2/1/1, Korea, Medal of Honor citation. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.
Carleton Monegan, Jr., Private First Class, United States Marine Corps, Arlington National Cemetery page. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
Milks, Keith A. "The Lore of the Corps 'Tank killer' earned MOH battling Russian T-34s", Marine Corps Times, January 12, 2004. Retrieved on 2006-06-22.

Walter C. Monegan, Jr.

Contents

Biography

Decorations

Medal of Honor citation

See also

References

Further reading