Francis C. Hammond

He stayed with wounded men under fire despite his own wounds

Francis Colton Hammond was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on 9 November 1931. The son of a pharmacist, he considered following that profession before joining the Navy in March 1951. Training at Great Lakes, Mare Island and Camp Pendleton prepared him to serve as a hospital corpsman with the Marines. He married his high-school sweetheart, Phyllis Jenkins, in June 1952.

After arriving in Korea in February 1953, he joined the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. Hammond faced a fierce night battle in Korea on 26-27 March 1953. His platoon was counterattacking an outpost when artillery, mortar fire and infantry assaults inflicted heavy casualties.

Although badly wounded, Hammond moved among the Marines for four hours, treating casualties and organizing their evacuation. When withdrawal was ordered, he remained to help the relieving corpsmen. A mortar explosion killed him while he was still assisting the wounded.

He was buried at Arlington in June 1953. His posthumous Medal of Honor was presented at the Pentagon that December to his widow and their infant son, who had been born after his death. A school in Alexandria and the frigate USS Francis Hammond commemorated the young corpsman.

Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an HC serving with the 1st Marine Division in action against enemy aggressor forces on the night of 26-27 March 1953. After reaching an intermediate objective during a counterattack against a heavily entrenched and numerically superior hostile force occupying ground on a bitterly contested outpost far in advance of the main line of resistance, HC Hammond's platoon was subjected to a murderous barrage of hostile mortar and artillery fire, followed by a vicious assault by onrushing enemy troops. Resolutely advancing through the veritable curtain of fire to aid his stricken comrades, HC Hammond moved among the stalwart garrison of marines and, although critically wounded himself, valiantly continued to administer aid to the other wounded throughout an exhausting four-hour period. When the unit was ordered to withdraw, he skillfully directed the evacuation of casualties and remained in the fire-swept area to assist the corpsmen of the relieving unit until he was struck by a round of enemy mortar fire and fell, mortally wounded. By his exceptional fortitude, inspiring initiative, and self-sacrificing efforts, HC Hammond undoubtedly saved the lives of many marines. His great personal valor in the face of overwhelming odds enhances and sustains the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.