Melvin L. Brown

He held their wall after using all his bullets and grenades.

Melvin Louis Brown was born at Mahaffey, Pennsylvania, in February 1931, one of ten children of Edward and Rhoda Brown. He enjoyed outdoor activities and worked as a mechanic before leaving school to enlist in the Army in October 1948. An older brother already serving in Japan helped inspire his decision.

Brown spent approximately eighteen months in Japan with the occupation forces. In July 1950, during the opening weeks of the Korean War, he went to Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division. He served in Company D, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, whose men were used in the fighting around the Pusan perimeter.

On 4 September near Kasan, his platoon was securing Hill 755, the Walled City, when enemy troops counterattacked. Brown took a position on a high wall and fired down on the attackers. Although wounded, he stayed after his rifle ammunition was exhausted and used his grenades to continue the defence.

Other soldiers threw him additional grenades from nearby positions. He exposed himself to enemy fire to retrieve and throw them. When these too were gone, he used his entrenching tool against men attempting to climb over the wall. His resistance helped the platoon hold its position against repeated attacks.

Brown was reported missing the following day. His family received the missing-in-action notification in October and learned in January 1951 that the Army had declared him dead. He was nineteen. His parents and other family members attended the White House on 9 January 1951, where President Harry Truman presented his posthumous Medal of Honor. Brown was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Mahaffey. Military facilities and local commemorations subsequently carried his name.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Pfc. Brown, Company D distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While his platoon was securing Hill 755 (the Walled City), the enemy, using heavy automatic weapons and small arms, counterattacked. Taking a position on a 50-foot-high wall he delivered heavy rifle fire on the enemy. His ammunition was soon expended and although wounded, he remained at his post and threw his few grenades into the attackers causing many casualties. When his supply of grenades was exhausted his comrades from nearby foxholes tossed others to him and he left his position, braving a hail of fire, to retrieve and throw them at the enemy. The attackers continued to assault his position and Pfc. Brown, weaponless, drew his entrenching tool from his pack and calmly waited until they 1 by 1 peered over the wall, delivering each a crushing blow upon the head. Knocking 10 or 12 enemy from the wall, his daring action so inspired his platoon that they repelled the attack and held their position. Pfc. Brown's extraordinary heroism, gallantry, and intrepidity reflect the highest credit upon himself and was in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service. Reportedly missing in action and officially killed in action, September 5, 1950.