Jack Weinstein (Medal of Honor)

Holding captured ground until wounded comrades escaped

Jack Weinstein earned the Medal of Honor for defending his platoon’s position during the Korean War. Born in Cheyenne County, Kansas, on October 18, 1928, he served as a sergeant in Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.

On October 19, 1951, at Kumsong, enemy troops counterattacked his platoon. Most of its men were already wounded and withdrew. Weinstein remained, firing his rifle until his ammunition ran out, then using enemy grenades found nearby. Despite a broken leg and reopened wounds, he held the position until another platoon relieved him. His stand bought time for his comrades to reach friendly lines.

Weinstein died in Saint Francis, Kansas, on April 20, 2006, and was buried in Cheyenne Valley Cemetery near Wheeler. President Barack Obama presented his posthumous Medal of Honor to his widow at the White House on March 18, 2014. The award commemorates his determination to protect wounded soldiers.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Sergeant Jack Weinstein distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while leading 1st Platoon, Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division in Kumsong, Korea on October 19, 1951. That afternoon, thirty enemy troops counterattacked Sergeant Weinstein’s platoon. Most of the platoon’s members had been wounded in the previous action and withdrew under the heavy fire. Sergeant Weinstein, however, remained in his position and continued to fight off the onrushing enemy, killing at least six with his M-1 rifle before running out of ammunition. Although under extremely heavy enemy fire, Sergeant Weinstein refused to withdraw and continued fighting by throwing enemy hand grenades found lying near his position. He again halted the enemy’s progress and inflicted numerous casualties. Alone and unaided, he held the ground which his platoon had fought tenaciously to take and held out against overwhelming odds until another platoon was able to relieve him and drive back the enemy. Sergeant Weinstein’s leg had been broken by an enemy grenade and old wounds suffered in previous battles had reopened, but he refused to withdraw and successfully bought time for his wounded comrades to reach friendly lines. Sergeant Weinstein’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.