Billie G. Kanell

Shielding two comrades from successive grenades

Billie Gene Kanell earned a posthumous Medal of Honor near Pyongyang, Korea, on 7 September 1951. A private with Company I, 35th Infantry Regiment, he fired from an exposed position during an enemy assault. When a grenade landed in the emplacement, he covered it to protect two comrades. Seriously wounded, Kanell summoned enough strength to move toward a second grenade thrown moments later, again shielding the men. His repeated self-sacrifice cost him his life and protected his companions from both explosions.

Medal of Honor citation

Pvt. Kanell, a member of Company I, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. A numerically superior hostile force had launched a fanatical assault against friendly positions, supported by mortar and artillery fire, when Pvt. Kanell stood in his emplacement exposed to enemy observation and action and delivered accurate fire into the ranks of the assailants. An enemy grenade was hurled into his emplacement and Pvt. Kanell threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the blast with his body to protect two of his comrades from serious injury and possible death. A few seconds later another grenade was thrown into the emplacement and, although seriously wounded by the first missile, he summoned his waning strength to roll toward the second grenade and used his body as a shield to again protect his comrades. He was mortally wounded as a result of his heroic actions. His indomitable courage, sustained fortitude against overwhelming odds, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.