Herbert A. Littleton

He shielded his fellow radio operators from a deadly grenade

Herbert Arthur Littleton was born at Mena, Arkansas, on 1 July 1930. His family later lived in the American West, and his schooling included East Port Orchard, Washington, and Sturgis, South Dakota. Before entering the Marines he worked for the Electrical Appliance Corporation in Rapid City.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 29 July 1948. After training at San Diego and Camp Pendleton, he was sent overseas with a replacement draft and reached Korea on 17 December 1950. He served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, in the 1st Marine Division. His assignment as a radio operator with an artillery forward observation team placed him close to the infantry positions whose defence depended on accurate supporting fire.

On the night of 22 April 1951, near Chungchon, a concealed enemy force attacked his company's position. Littleton alerted the other members of the observation team and moved into a position from which he could help direct artillery against the attackers. As the team assembled, an enemy hand grenade landed among them.

Littleton immediately threw himself over the grenade. Its explosion killed him, but his body shielded his comrades from the blast. The surviving team members were able to continue their mission, contributing to the defeat of the attack. His Medal of Honor citation recognised both the sacrifice itself and the operational effect of preserving the artillery team.

He was 20 years old. President Harry Truman approved the posthumous Medal of Honor in June 1952. His parents received the medal at Boise, Idaho, on 19 August 1952. He is buried in Kohler Lawn Cemetery, Nampa, Idaho. Later memorials in South Dakota and elsewhere commemorated his sacrifice.

Full Medal of Honor citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator with an artillery forward observation team of Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Standing watch when a well-concealed and numerically superior enemy force launched a violent night attack from nearby positions against his company, Pfc. Littleton quickly alerted the forward observation team and immediately moved into an advantageous position to assist in calling down artillery fire on the hostile force. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown into his vantage point shortly after the arrival of the remainder of the team, he unhesitatingly hurled himself on the deadly missile, absorbing its full, shattering impact in his body. By his prompt action and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, he saved the other members of his team from serious injury or death and enabled them to carry on the vital mission which culminated in the repulse of the hostile attack. His indomitable valor in the face of almost certain death reflects the highest credit upon Pfc. Littleton and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.