from:www.military.com/features/0,15240,83927,00.html

Korean War Veteran, MOH Recipient Laid to Rest



MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON - Col. Reginald R. Myers (ret.) passed away at a hospice in West Palm Beach, Fla. Oct. 23. from the effects of a stroke. Myers, who was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery Dec.21, received the Medal of Honor in the Korean War for leading a small, improvised unit of 250 men, in an attack against an entrenched force of 4,000 Chinese troops Nov. 29, 1950. Myers and his men were to assault and capture a key position during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir.

His Medal of Honor citation, read that Myers "persisted in constantly exposing himself to intense, accurate, and sustained hostile fire in order to direct and supervise the Employment of his men and to encourage and spur them on in pressing the attack."

According to an article published by the Times News Services, Myers, also a double-Bronze Star awardee (both with Combat Distinguishing Device), directed artillery and mortar fire and set up emplacements to defend the hill from Chinese efforts to recapture it. The intense fighting lasted 14 hours before reinforcements arrived. In that time, Myers' beleaguered force killed more than 600 Chinese soldiers and wounded 500.

Myers was born Nov. 26, 1919, in Boise, Idaho. He grew up in Boise and Salt Lake City, and graduated in 1941 from the University of Idaho. He was in the Army Reserve before becoming a Marine officer in September 1941.

Citation from:www.army.mil/cmh-pg/mohkor2.htm

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MYERS, REGINALD R.

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, (Rein.). Place and date: Near Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 November 1950. Entered service at: Boise, Idaho. Born: 26 November 1919, Boise, Idaho. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer of the 3d Battalion, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assuming command of a composite unit of Army and Marine service and headquarters elements totaling approximately 250 men, during a critical stage in the vital defense of the strategically important military base at Hagaru-ri, Maj. Myers immediately initiated a determined and aggressive counterattack against a well-entrenched and cleverly concealed enemy force numbering an estimated 4,000. Severely handicapped by a lack of trained personnel and experienced leaders in his valiant efforts to regain maximum ground prior to daylight, he persisted in constantly exposing himself to intense, accurate, and sustained hostile fire in order to direct and supervise the employment of his men and to encourage and spur them on in pressing the attack. Inexorably moving forward up the steep, snow-covered slope with his depleted group in the face of apparently insurmountable odds, he concurrently directed artillery and mortar fire with superb skill and although losing 170 of his men during 14 hours of raging combat in subzero temperatures, continued to reorganize his unit and spearhead the attack which resulted in 600 enemy killed and 500 wounded. By his exceptional and valorous leadership throughout, Maj. Myers contributed directly to the success of his unit in restoring the perimeter. His resolute spirit of self-sacrifice and unfaltering devotion to duty enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service .

RIP, sir.
The more I read about the frozen Chosin, the more I wonder what's happened to the American male.

RIP

RIP

Ohmygoodgod, he was left with 80 men.... 68% casualties....rear echelon and headquarters troops. And he used them to regain the hill against 4000 troops. 250 vs 4000.

Incredible men.

Semper Fi

Rest in peace Sir.



Dram out

Quoted: RIP, sir. The more I read about the frozen Chosin, the more I wonder what's happened to the American male.

man, just look at iraq and a-stan. we make 'em as tough as ever but they're a helluva lot smarter than us dinosaurs!

that list of heroes just gets shorter and shorter...

semper fi, colonel.