John W. Collier

John Walton Collier (April 3, 1929 – September 19, 1950) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. On June 24, 1951, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter.

John Walton Collier
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Born	(1929-04-03)April 3, 1929 Worthington, Kentucky
Died	September 19, 1950(1950-09-19) (aged 21) Pusan Perimeter, Korea
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	-1950
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division
Battles / wars	Korean War Battle of Pusan Perimeter Pusan Perimeter Offensive †
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Awards and decorations

	Medal of Honor
	Purple Heart

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Chindong-ni, Korea, September 19, 1950,

Entered service at: Worthington, Ky. Born: April 3, 1929, Worthington, Ky

G.O. No.: 86, August 2, 1951.

Citation

Cpl. Collier, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While engaged in an assault on a strategic ridge strongly defended by a fanatical enemy, the leading elements of his company encountered intense automatic weapons and grenade fire. Cpl. Collier and 3 comrades volunteered and moved forward to neutralize an enemy machine gun position which was hampering the company's advance, but they were twice repulsed. On the third attempt, Cpl. Collier, despite heavy enemy fire and grenade barrages, moved to an exposed position ahead of his comrades, assaulted and destroyed the machine gun nest, killing at least 4 enemy soldiers. As he returned down the rocky, fire-swept hill and joined his squad, an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Shouting a warning to his comrades, he, selflessly and unhesitatingly, threw himself upon the grenade and smothered its explosion with his body. This intrepid action saved his comrades from death or injury. Cpl. Collier's supreme, personal bravery, consummate gallantry, and noble self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

• ""JOHN W. COLLIER" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2007-12-30.