![]() |
Sgt. Jack Weinstein |
Sgt. Jack Weinstein will receive the Medal of Honor
posthumously for his courageous actions while leading 1st Platoon,
Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division in Kumsong,
Korea on October 19, 1951.
Jack Weinstein was born in Lamar, Mo., Oct. 18, 1928.
He was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1950.
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of
the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting
the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Jack Weinstein (ASN:
US-55055551), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United
Nations while serving with Company G, 2d Battalion, 21st Infantry
Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Sergeant Weinstein distinguished
himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor
forces in the vicinity of Kumsong, Korea, on 19 October 1951. On that
date, Sergeant Weinstein was a member of a platoon that had just secured
a strategic hill position from the enemy. As the friendly force began
to consolidate their defenses, the numerically superior enemy launched a
fierce counterattack to regain their lost positions. With most of the
men of the platoon suffering wounds from the previous action, it became
necessary for the friendly troops to execute a limited withdrawal. In
order to provide covering fire for his comrades as they fell back,
Sergeant Weinstein voluntarily remained in his position and continued to
fire at the on-rushing enemy. After killing at least six of the
attacking enemy with rifle fire, Sergeant Weinstein still refused to
leave his position even though his ammunition was exhausted. Instead,
gathering enemy grenades which lay near his emplacement, he hurled them
at the hostile troops. Although painfully wounded, Sergeant Weinstein
continued to inflict numerous casualties among the enemy,
single-handedly holding the ground which his platoon had previously
taken. He was still fighting fiercely when a friendly force moved
forward and drove the enemy force from the objective.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Weinstein
received the Distinguished Service Cross (this award will be upgraded to the Medal of Honor on Mar. 18), Purple Heart with one Bronze Oak Leaf
Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two
Bronze Service Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman
Badge, United Nations Service Medal, and Republic of Korea-Korean War
Service Medal.