This is a list of Navy Cross recipients for actions of valor carried out during the Korean War , awarded by the United States Department of the Navy .
The Korean War was an escalation of border clashes between two rival Korean regimes, created at the end of World War II by the division of Korea into two occupation zones (a U.S. and Soviet one), with each Korean regime trying to topple the other through political and guerrilla tactics. In a very narrow sense, some may refer to it as a civil war , though many other factors were at play.[ 1] After failing to strengthen their cause in the free elections held in South Korea during May 1950[ 2] and the refusal of South Korea to hold new elections per North Korean demands, the communist North Korean Army moved south on June 25, 1950 to attempt to reunite the Korean peninsula, which had been formally divided since 1948. The conflict was then expanded by the United States and the Soviet Union 's involvement as part of the larger Cold War . The main hostilities were during the period from June 25, 1950 until an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.
As of June 2022[update] , this list is incomplete, showing 270 Navy Crosses awarded in all service branches for actions of valor during the Korean War: 43 to US Navy recipients; 224 to US Marine Corps recipients; and one US Army recipient. By partial comparison, as of June 2022[update] , the U.S. Department of Defense shows 49 awarded to Navy recipients[ 3] and 248 to Marines Corps recipients,[ 4] for acts of valor during the Korean War.
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Welton R. Abell
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
between Hagaru-ri & Koto-ri, Korea
December 6–8, 1950
Company commander
Jon D. Adams
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
September 4–5, 1952
Single-handedly killed 58 of the enemy with a machine gun
Richard J. Adams
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
March 19–20, 1953
Rifleman
George W. Alexander Jr.
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
April 8–9, 1952
Intelligence officer
David W. Alley
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Yudam-ni, Korea
November 30, 1950
Automatic rifleman
Wayne D. Austin
Navy
Chief Hospital Corpsman
near Seoul, Korea
September 22, 1950
Despite being severely wounded, he rendered aid to 10 wounded Marines
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Arlene K. Babbitt
Navy
Chief Aviation Machinist's Mate
near Sariwon, Korea
October 26, 1951
Helicopter pilot who rescued two pilots who had been shot 80 miles behind enemy lines
Arthur R. Bancroft †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
September 29, 1950
Located a friendly observation plane which had been shot down behind enemy lines before he himself was shot down
Charles L. Banks
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
November 29 – December 6, 1950
Battalion commander
Virgil W. Banning
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Korea
April 23, 1951
Battalion commander
Arthur G. Barbosa
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
April 15, 1952
Personally repelled three enemy assaults with a machine gun, killing 12 of the enemy
Quinton T. Barlow
Marine Corps
Technical Sergeant
Korea
April 16, 1952
Platoon sergeant
John M. Barrett †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
June 10, 1951
Led his squad in an assault of an enemy hill, overrunning an emplacement despite multiple wounds
Ora E. Barrett Jr. †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
June 10, 1951
Provided covering fire which allowed the wounded to be evacuated
Robert H. Barrow
Marine Corps
Captain
Hill 1081, Koto-ri, Korea
December 9–10, 1950
Company commander, later awarded Distinguished Service Cross, served as 27th Commandant of the Marine Corps
William H. Bates
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
July 24–25, 1953
Platoon leader
James T. Beard
Marine Corps
Private
Hagaru-ri, Korea
December 3, 1950
After killing seven of the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, he single-handedly captured an enemy machine gun and used it to kill 10 more of the enemy
Robert E. Beatty
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
April 8–9, 1952
Van D. Bell Jr.
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
near Hwachon, Korea
May 29, 1951
First award (second was in Vietnam War )
Adolfo Benavides
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
October 6, 1952
Threw several enemy hand grenades from his bunker before one detonated in his hand
Elmer R. Betts Jr.
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
February 3, 1953
Harrison F. Betts
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 28–29, 1950
After all other members of his platoon were wounded, he personally killed 11 of the enemy with a machine gun over a period of three hours
Richard N. Blasongame
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Hwang-gi area, Korea
September 15–16, 1951
Led his machine gun section in killing 287 of the enemy
Joseph A. Blick
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
December 7–8, 1950
Personally captured four and killed 14 of the enemy despite multiple wounds
John F. Bolt
Marine Corps
Major
Korea
July 11, 1953
Shot down two enemy jets, bringing his total score during the war to six. This feat made him the first and only Marine jet ace in history. He had also shot down six planes in World War II.
Dorsie H. Booker Jr. †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Yudam-ni, Korea
December 2, 1950
Platoon commander
Walter C. Borawski †
Marine Corps
Technical Sergeant
Korea
January 13, 1953
Platoon sergeant
Guy P. Bordelon
Navy
Lieutenant
over Seoul, Korea
July 17, 1953
First and only Navy ace of the war, and the only night fighter ace in Korea.
Murray M. Bowen †
Navy
Hospitalman
Yong Dong Po-Ri, Korea
September 21, 1950
After rendering aid to nine wounded Marines, he was attempting to reach a 10th when he was killed
Billie J. Bowerman
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
May 10, 1952
Automatic rifleman
Palmer S. Braaten †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Yudam-ni, Korea
December 2, 1950
Squad leader
Bobbie B. Bradley
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
December 8, 1950
Platoon commander
Charles W. Bradshaw †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
April 25–26, 1953
Fire team leader
Joseph C. Brady
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
September 13, 1952
Later died of malaria in Vietnam
Earl B. Bratback †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
April 25, 1951
Rifle squad leader
Richard R. Breen
Marine Corps
Captain
near Seoul, Korea
September 26–27, 1950
Company commander
Donald E. Brewer †
Navy
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Central Korea
June 19, 1953
William C. Britt
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
March 19, 1953
Platoon leader
Dale W. Brown
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
April 18, 1953
Threw several enemy hand grenades from his position before he was wounded by one
William P. Brown Jr. †
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
February 24, 1952
Second award (first was in World War II ). Crashed his plane into an enemy convoy
Rollins M. Bryant †
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
near Tumae-ri, Korea
May 28, 1952
Platoon sergeant
Thomas A. Burchick
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Korea
May 29, 1951
Corpsman
Phillip J. Burr
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
October 6, 1952
Platoon commander
George H. Butler
Marine Corps
Master Sergeant
near Hongch-on, Korea
March 11, 1951
Despite being wounded multiple times while assaulting an enemy position, he succeeded in killing 10 of the enemy
Wallace S. Butler Jr. †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
April 8, 1953
Platoon commander
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Crayton L. Caldwell †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
October 6, 1952
John J. Canney †
Marine Corps
Major
Korea
November 28, 1950
Battalion executive officer
Mario J. Cardillo †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
May 9, 1952
Mortar ammunition carrier
Fred D. Chadwick †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
January 31, 1953
Platoon sergeant
William B. Chain Jr.
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
Korea
August 13, 1952
Squad leader
Theodore H. Chenoweth
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
March 28, 1953
Platoon commander
John W. Chinner
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
March 9, 1951
Machine gun section leader
Thomas A. Christensen Jr. †
Navy
Dentalman
Kowan, Korea
November 6, 1950
Corpsman
Bernard W. Christofferson
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Yudam-ni, Korea
November 28, 1950
Platoon commander
Joe V. Churchill
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
April 23, 1951
Corpsman, originally awarded Bronze Star which was upgraded to Navy Cross in 1985
Eugene F. Clark
Navy
Lieutenant
North Korea
September 13–14, 1950
Special operations group member
Albert H. Collins †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
September 21, 1950
Assistant machine gunner
Lyle F. Conaway
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
September 15–16, 1951
Rifleman
John D. Counselman
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
near Seoul, Korea
September 17 & 26, 1950
Platoon leader
Ernie L. Crawford
Navy
Aviation Machinist's Mate Second Class
Hungnam area, Korea
January 22, 1952
Rescue helicopter crewman
Frank S. Cross
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
March 19–20, 1953
Automatic rifleman
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Donald A. Daigneault
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
September 12, 1951
Automatic rifleman
Joseph W. Dailey
Marine Corps
Technical Sergeant
Korea
February 25, 1953
Later served as 5th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
James C. Davis †
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
near Chindong-ni, Korea
August 8, 1950
Smothered a defective hand grenade with his own body
John G. Demas
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
August 13–15, 1952
Company commander
Loyd V. Dirst
Marine Corps
Chief Warrant Officer
near Pusong-ni, Korea
November 29–30, 1950
Organized his company during an ambush, personally accounting for several of the enemy before he was seriously wounded
Richard M. Doezema
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
April 24, 1951
Artillery forward observer attached to Korean Marine regiment
Marion T. Dragastin †
Navy
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
North Korea
May 18, 1951
Fighter pilot
Matthew D. Dukes
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
September 14, 1951
Fire team leader
Andrew F. Dunay
Marine Corps
Sergeant
near Hagaru-ri, Korea
December 6–7, 1950
Leland E. Ehrlich †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
December 7, 1950
Single-handedly attacked an enemy machine gun nest and disrupted an enemy attack
Robert J. Elliott †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
January 26, 1951
George W. Elmore †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
February 26, 1951
Automatic rifleman
John B. Elwell †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
February 3, 1953
Single-handedly assaulted and routed the enemy from a bunker before he was mortally wounded
Ralph F. Estey
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
March 27–28, 1953
Company commander
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
David K. Fauser
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
February 3, 1953
Platoon commander
John L. Fenwick Jr.
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Hwachon Reservoir area, Korea
April 1951
Belatedly awarded Navy Cross in 1960
Teddy R. Fielding
Navy
Lieutenant
Northeast coast of Korea
December 3, 1951
Reconnaissance swimmer
Joseph R. Fisher
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 28–29, 1950
Company commander
George F. Fitzpatrick †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
January 31, 1953
Rifleman
Charlie Foster †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
November 6, 1950
Platoon sergeant
Fred T. Foster
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Yudam-ni, Korea
November 28, 1950
Corpsman
Edward Fristock †
Marine Corps
Master Sergeant
near Waryong-ni, Korea
June 7, 1951
Company gunnery sergeant
James P. Gallagher
Marine Corps
Private
Korea
November 27–28, 1950
Assumed command of his machine gun section and directed his Marines in inflicting 100 casualties on the enemy
William M. Gaul †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
September 13–14, 1951
Platoon sergeant
William F. Gentleman
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
August 15, 1952
Rendered aid to wounded Marines under heavy fire for nine hours before he himself was wounded
Walter W. George †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Yudam-ni, Korea
December 2, 1950
Automatic rifleman
Donald W. Gilligan
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
October 27, 1950
Assistant machine gunner
Joseph L. Giovannucci
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
September 11, 1951
Assistant machine gunner
Martin L. Givot †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
October 26–27, 1952
Platoon leader
Callis C. Gooding
Navy
Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class
near Sariwon, Korea
October 26, 1951
Rescue helicopter crewman
Rodney J. Green
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
September 4–5, 1952
Machine gun squad leader
John N. Guild †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Hill 85, Yongdungp’o, Korea
September 20, 1950
Platoon leader
Richard S. Gzik †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
December 2, 1950
Automatic rifleman
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
John H. C. Hamby
Marine Corps
Sergeant
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 27, 1950
Squad leader
Weldon D. Harris †
Marine Corps
Corporal
near Seoul, Korea
September 23–24, 1950
Fire team leader
William F. Harris †
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
between Hagaru-ri & Koto-ri
December 7, 1950
Battalion commander
Roy E. Harrison †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Inje, Korea
June 11, 1951
Machine gunner
Amon F. Harvey Jr. †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Yudam-ni, Korea
December 2, 1950
Rifleman
Robert C. Hendrickson
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
September 12, 1951
Company commander
Howard C. Hensley Jr.
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
January 13, 1953
Squad leader
Wilbur N. Herndon
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
December 7, 1950
Artillery battery executive officer
Ernest J. Hightower †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
June 1, 1951
Fire team leader
Frederick E. Hilliard
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
December 16, 1952
Platoon leader
Morse L. Holladay
Marine Corps
Captain
near Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 29–30, 1950
Company commander
William C. Holmberg
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
June 13, 1952
Platoon leader
William P. Holt
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Sudong-ni, Korea
December 10, 1950
Machine gunner
John L. Hopkins
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Hill 611, Korea
June 2, 1951
Battalion commander
Russell J. House †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Kimpo Airfield, Korea
September 18, 1950
Donald J. Hovatter †
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Korea
May 29, 1951
Corpsman
Warren C. Howard
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
December 7, 1950
Machine gunner
Milton A. Hull
Marine Corps
Captain
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 27, 1950
Company commander
David L. Hyde †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
October 27, 1952
Platoon leader
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Nils V. Ingemansson
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
September 6–7, 1952
Squad leader
James E. Jackson Jr. †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
May 17, 1951
Automatic rifleman
R. A. Jackson †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 28, 1950
Rifleman
Austin C. Jenson †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 29, 1950
Platoon leader
Horace L. Johnson Jr.
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
November 28–29, 1950
Company executive officer
Walter P. Johnson
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
July 5, 1952
Smothered an enemy hand grenade with his own body and was seriously wounded
Donald R. Jones
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
near Koto-ri Pass, Korea
December 8, 1950
Platoon leader
Jack R. Jones
Marine Corps
Captain
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 27 – December 7, 1950
Company commander
Vance E. Kee
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
near Yang-gu, Korea
June 19, 1951
Shielded a wounded Marine from an exploding mine using his own body
Joseph F. Keenan †
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Korea
March 26–27, 1953
Harrol Kiser
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
near Hagaru-ri, Korea
December 3, 1950
Platoon leader
Alex J. Kitka
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Korea
July 16–17, 1953
Administered first aid to comrades under intense enemy fire until all casualties were evacuated
Edwin L. Knox
Marine Corps
Technical Sergeant
between Yudam-ni & Hagaru-ri, Korea
December 1–3, 1950
Platoon sergeant
Robert D. Kohler
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
March 3, 1953
Automatic rifleman
Vincent R. Kramer
Marine Corps
Major
North Korea
June 30, July 2 & 7, 1951
Led 100 South Korean troops into enemy territory
Joseph R. Kurcaba †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
October 21 – December 8, 1950
Company commander
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Donald F. Lambert †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
January 8, 1953
Platoon commander
Jack F. Larson
Marine Corps
Sergeant
near Hongch-on, Korea
March 11, 1951
Squad leader
James F. Lawrence Jr.
Marine Corps
Major
between Hagaru-ri & Koto-ri
December 6–7, 1950
Operations officer and battalion executive officer
Benjamin G. Lee †
Marine Corps
Major
Korea
March 29, 1953
Kurt C. Lee
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
near Sudong
November 2–3, 1950
Platoon leader
Joseph R. Leeds †
Marine Corps
Corporal
near Koto-ri, Korea
December 8, 1950
Assaulted an enemy machine gun position and killed nine of the enemy in hand-to-hand combat before he was killed
Lawrence E. Lett †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
October 27, 1952
Squad leader
Ronald N. Levasseur †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 28–29, 1950
Platoon messenger
Charles G. Little
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
June 24–25, 1952
Platoon leader
Homer L. Litzenberg Jr.
Marine Corps
Colonel
between Hagaru-ri and Koto-ri, Korea
December 6–7, 1950
Regiment commander
William J. Livingston
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
February 27, 1953
Platoon leader
Herbert M. Lorence
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
March 28, 1953
Company commander
Joseph J. Louder
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
Korea
August 17, 1952
Platoon sergeant
William B. Lourim †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
near Yanggu, Korea
June 10, 1951
Combat correspondent
Frank E. Lovett Jr. †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
March 26, 1953
Squad leader
Eugene L. Lutz
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
June 26, 1951
Machine gun section leader
Theodore J. Lutz Jr.
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
July 25, 1953
Platoon leader
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
John J. Magda †
Navy
Lieutenant Commander
Tanch-on, Korea
March 8, 1951
World War II ace, continued to carry out bombing and strafing runs despite his aircraft being damaged
Perry A. Mallette
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
July 6, 1952
Frederick J. Markland
Marine Corps
Private
Kowon, Korea
November 6, 1950
Railroad train guard
Donald E. Mason
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
October 12, 1952
Richard Matheney
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
April 24, 1951
Artillery forward observer
Bruce Mathewson Jr. †
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
near Koto-ri, Korea
November 29, 1950
Machine gun section leader
John E. Mausen Jr.
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
October 6, 1952
Paul N. McCloskey Jr.
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
May 29, 1951
Platoon leader
William J. McClung III
Marine Corps
Master Sergeant
Korea
December 7, 1950
POW during World War II
Harold O. McEachern
Navy
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
near Wonsan, Korea
August 5, 1952
Helicopter pilot who located and rescued Marine Medal of Honor recipient Robert E. Galer , who had been shot down behind enemy lines
Patrick T. McGahn Jr.
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
April 22–23, 1951
Platoon leader
Thomas P. McGuire
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Hill 134, Korea
January 8, 1953
Squad leader
George C. McNaughton
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
near Seoul, Korea
September 24, 1950
Platoon leader
James H. McVeen †
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
March 27, 1953
John F. Meade
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 27, 1950
Platoon runner
John B. Melvin
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
March 26–29, 1953
Company commander
Richard C. Merrick †
Navy
Commander
Korea
May 1951
Strike leader
Earl D. Midkiff
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
November 3, 1950
Picked up an enemy hand grenade and attempted to throw it out of his foxhole. He was seriously wounded when it detonated in his hand but he saved the life of a Marine. Belatedly awarded Navy Cross in 1964.
Charles D. Mize
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Hill 216 & Seoul, Korea
September 23–29, 1950
Company commander
Charles H. Monroe Jr.
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 28–29, 1950
Rifleman
Clarence G. Moody Jr.
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
August 12–13, 1952
Company commander
Anthony G. Morrison †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
November 11, 1952
Company commander
Daniel M. Murphy
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 27–28, 1950
Platoon sergeant
Benjamin H. Murray
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
March 26, 1953
Outpost commander
Raymond L. Murray
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Hagaru-ri & Koto-ri, Korea
December 6–7, 1950
Second award (first was in World War II )
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
George M. Neal
Navy
Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class
North Korea
July 3, 1951
POW
Franklin B. Nihart
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Hill 749, Hwanggi, Korea
September 15–16, 1951
Battalion commander
Harvey W. Nolan
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Hwachon, Korea
April 23, 1951
Platoon leader
Henry E. Noonkester
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Koto-ri, Korea
December 9, 1950
Squad leader
Ramón Núñez-Juárez †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
August 9, 1952
Automatic rifleman
Terrance W. O'Donnell †
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
June 25, 1952
Corpsman
James W. Ogden †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 30, 1950
John Olihovik
Army
Captain
Chuchon-ni, Korea
February 20, 1951
L-5 airplane pilot
Edmond T. Orsulak
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 30 – December 1, 1950
Platoon runner
James W. O'Toole †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Seoul, Korea
September 24, 1950
Machine gunner
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
John U. D. Page †
Army
Lieutenant Colonel
near Sudong-ni, Korea
December 10, 1950
Also awarded Medal of Honor , for overall actions of November 29 to December 10, 1950
Waller J. Parker
Navy
Hospitalman
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 29, 1950
Donald L. Parks †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
May 6, 1952
Pilot
Earl F. Peach †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
November 3, 1950
Platoon runner
Chester O. Penney Jr. †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
November 2–11, 1950
Platoon leader
Uel D. Peters
Marine Corps
Captain
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
November 27 – December 6, 1950
Company commander
George E. Petro
Marine Corps
Captain
Sudong-ni, Korea
December 10, 1950
Company commander
Walter D. Phillips Jr. †
Marine Corps
Captain
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 27, 1950
Company commander
Paul N. Polley
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
March 26–27, 1953
Charles E. Pope †
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Korea
February 22, 1953
Clinton A. Puckett
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
Korea
June 21, 1952
Platoon sergeant, later served as 6th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Lewis B. Puller
Marine Corps
Colonel
between Koto-ri & Hungnam, Korea
December 5–10, 1950
Fifth award (first two were in occupation of Nicaragua , second two were in World War II )
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Arlis W. Ramsay †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
March 28, 1953
Squad leader
Robert J. Raymond †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
July 26, 1953
Platoon guide
Benjamin S. Read
Marine Corps
Captain
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
December 7, 1950
Artillery battery commander
Kenneth L. Reusser
Marine Corps
Major
Inchon area, Korea
August 5, 1950
Second award (first was in World War II )
Clayton L. Roberts †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
October 27, 1950
Machine gun squad leader
Stanley S. Robinson
Marine Corps
Private
near Sudong, Korea
December 2–4, 1950
Fire team leader
Harold S. Roise
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Inchon & Seoul, Korea
September 15–26, 1950
First award, Battalion commander
Harold S. Roise
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
November 27 – December 11, 1950
Second award, battalion commander
Enrique Romero-Nieves
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
October 26, 1952
Squad leader
John A. Rowe
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
May 31, 1952
Attempted to throw an enemy hand grenade away from his Marines and was seriously wounded when it exploded
Franklin D. Roy
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
October 26, 1952
Wireman
Charles V. Rust †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Hill 673, Korea
September 12, 1951
Fire team leader
Howard Ryan †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
October 7, 1952
Squad leader
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Robert B. Salsberry
Marine Corps
Corporal
near Seoul, Korea
September 26, 1950
Despite being wounded, he single-handedly held off the enemy for seven hours, saving the lives of six wounded Marines.
Webb D. Sawyer
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Korea
April 22–25, 1951
Battalion commander
James E. Scott
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 30, 1950
Edward H. Seeburger
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
between Yudam-ni & Hagaru-ri
December 2, 1950
Provisional company commander
Russell J. Seldal
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
December 4, 1950
Cannoneer
Robert Serrano
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
September 12, 1951
Shielded a wounded Marine from an exploding mine with his own body
Walter C. Shonk
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
June 10, 1951
Automatic rifleman
Darcy V. Shouldice
Navy
Lieutenant Commander
off Wonsan Harbor
October 12, 1950
Louis J. Sigmund
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
November 28, 1951
Leaped into a bunker to throw out an enemy hand grenade away from a Marine. He lost his left hand from the explosion and was also wounded in the head.
Lloyd B. Smalley †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
December 8, 1952
Squad leader
Billy D. Smith †
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
July 11–13, 1953
David E. Smith †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
July 9, 1953
Squad leader
H. J. Smith †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Seoul, Korea
September 24, 1950
Company commander
Loren R. Smith
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 28, 1950
Company executive officer
Raymond C. Smith
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
October 6, 1952
Samuel S. Smith Jr.
Marine Corps
Captain
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
December 6–7, 1950
Company commander
Edward W. Snelling
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Hagaru-ri, Korea
November 28–29, 1950
Mortar section leader
James B. Southall
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
September 14, 1951
Platoon sergeant
Frank Speir
Army
Major
Korea
September 19, 1950
Charles R. Stapler †
Navy
Commander
North Korea
June 9, 1951
Night fighter pilot
James W. Stephen †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
October 6, 1952
Squad leader
John W. Stevens II
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
November 27 – December 11, 1950
Battalion commander
Roy L. Stewart
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
July 16–17, 1953
Cletus H. Stone
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
September 16, 1951
Frederick E. Stouffer
Marine Corps
Private First Class
near Koto-ri, Korea
December 8, 1950
Platoon runner
Dale L. Stropes †
Marine Corps
Master Sergeant
near Yudam-ni, Korea
December 2, 1950
Company gunnery sergeant
George S. Sulliman †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
near Hill 435, Map’yong-ni, Korea
April 24, 1951
Platoon leader
Allan Sutter
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
November 25 – December 10, 1950
Battalion commander
Oral R. Swigart Jr.
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
July 24–25, 1953
Company commander
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Kenneth E. Taft Jr. †
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
March 26, 1953
Platoon leader
Robert D. Taplett
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Chosin Reservoir, Korea
November 28 – December 10, 1950
Battalion commander
Francis R. Thomas Jr. †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
October 27, 1952
Fire team leader
Will A. Thompson †
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
Korea
October 6, 1952
Platoon sergeant
John W. Thornton
Navy
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
near Wonsan, Korea
March 31, 1951
POW
Gerald G. Tidwell †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Hungnam, Korea
December 24, 1950
Platoon leader
Donald T. Toland †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Korea
May 28, 1951
Radio operator
Robert F. Touchette
Marine Corps
Sergeant
near Tumae-ri, Korea
May 28, 1952
Squad leader
Alfred D. Trombly
Navy
Hospital Corpsman Third Class
Korea
June 8, 1951
Shielded wounded Marines from shrapnel using his own body, and despite his wounds he continued to render aid
Ernest J. Umbaugh †
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
Koto-ri Pass, Korea
December 9, 1950
Platoon sergeant
Earl L. Valentine Jr. †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
August 25–26, 1952
Platoon leader
Lucian L. Vestal
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
May 28, 1951
Platoon leader
Raymond W. Vogel Jr. †
Navy
Commander
near Seoul, Korea
August 19, 1950
Pilot
This along with the
† , indicates that the Navy Cross was awarded posthumously
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
Thomas H. Waddill
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
March 26, 1953
Shielded several wounded Marines from enemy fire with his own body and was seriously wounded. He was later captured as a POW.
Robert C. Wagner
Navy
Hospitalman
Hill 673, Korea
September 7, 1951
Stephen C. Walter †
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
July 17–18, 1953
Squad leader
Ralph L. Walz †
Marine Corps
Captain
Korea
March 29, 1953
Company commander
Joseph M. Ward
Marine Corps
Sergeant
Korea
September 19, 1950
Leaped into a foxhole and threw an enemy hand grenade out. He was wounded by the explosion but saved the lives of two Marines.
Marvin L. Wasson
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Sudong-ni, Korea
December 10, 1950
Anti-tank gunner
John E. Watson
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
August 12–13, 1952
Stanley J. Wawrzyniak
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
Korea
September 19, 1951
First award, company gunnery sergeant
Stanley J. Wawrzyniak
Marine Corps
Technical Sergeant
Korea
April 16, 1952
Second award
William D. Weisgerber
Marine Corps
Staff Sergeant
Korea
October 2, 1952
Platoon guide
Robley E. West
Marine Corps
Lieutenant Colonel
Korea
April 23–24, 1951
Battalion commander
Jack Westerman
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
August 10, 1950
Platoon leader
Roger G. Whear Jr.
Navy
Hospitalman
Korea
August 20, 1952
E. Royce Williams
Navy
Lieutenant
Sea of Japan , near the coast of north Korea
November 18, 1952
Certificate issued on December 19, 2022 and Awarded on January 20, 2023
Jack V. Williams †
Marine Corps
Corporal
Hagaru-ri, Korea
December 6–7, 1950
Machine gun squad leader. Armed with small arms he retrieved a marine machine gun that the Chinese had over ran and were using on US Marines. After getting other marines set up on the machine gun, he was killed returning to his own.
Leslie C. Williams †
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
near Yudam-ni, Korea
December 1, 1950
Platoon leader
Frank E. Wilson
Marine Corps
Captain
near Hwachon Reservoir, Korea
April 13, 1951
Helicopter pilot
Loyd J. Wilson †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
October 6, 1952
Machine gunner
Wilmot H. Wolf
Marine Corps
Technical Sergeant
Korea
November 24, 1952
Assistant patrol leader
John G. Word
Marine Corps
Second Lieutenant
Korea
September 5–7, 1952
Platoon leader
Vance O. Worster †
Marine Corps
Private First Class
Korea
October 26, 1952
Name
Service
Rank
Place of action
Date of action
Notes
John Yancey
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
near Yudam-ni, Korea
November 27–28, 1950
Second award (first was in World War II )
George W. Yates †
Marine Corps
First Lieutenant
Korea
April 8–9, 1953
Platoon leader
^ Richard W. Stewart (ed.). "Ch. 8 :The Korean War, 1950–1953" . American Military History, Volume 2(revised 2005) . CMH Pub 30-22. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2007 .
^ Hermes, Jr., Walter (1966). Truce Tent and Fighting Front . United States Army Center of Military History . p. 2,6,9. Archived from the original on 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2020-06-02 .
^ "(U.S. Navy) Navy Cross Recipients, Korean War, 1950-1953" (PDF) . U.S. Department of Defense . 2013-03-29. Retrieved 2022-06-24 .
^ "U.S. Marine Corps Navy Cross Recipients, Korean War, 1950-1953" (PDF) . U.S. Department of Defense . 2013-09-12. Retrieved 2022-06-24 .