Walter C. Monegan, Jr.
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| Walter Carleton Monegan, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| February 25, 1930 - September 20, 1950 | |
  Walter C. Monegan, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Nickname | "Tank Killer" |
| Place of birth | Melrose, Massachusetts |
| Place of death | Killed in action at Sosa-ri, Korea |
| Years of service | 1947-1950 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines |
| Battles/wars | Korean War-Battle of Inchon |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Walter Carleton Monegan, Jr. (1930-1950) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea when he gave his life to help repulse an overwhelming enemy tank and infantry attack. He was killed on 20 September 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 rocket.
The Medal of Honor was presented to his widow by Secretary of the Navy Daniel A. Kimball, during ceremonies on 8 February 1952, in Washington, D.C.
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[edit] Biography
Walter Carleton Monegan, Jr. was born on 25 December 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 22 March 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.
He re-enlisted on 20 July 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 15 September 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 19 July 1951 in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
In addition to the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart Medal, his decorations include: the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star; the China Service Medal; and the Korean Service Medal with one bronze star.
[edit] 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 20 September 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 17 September, 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
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- 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.
[edit] Further reading
- Oliver, SgtMaj Scotia D., USMC (Retired); with Kathy Oliver Brown (1999). Incident at Sosa-Ri. Retrieved on July 4, 2006.
- Johnstone, Major John H., USMC (1968). Brief History of the 1st Marines. Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on July 4, 2006.. Includes history of Inchon landing and the march to Seoul.
