William R. Jecelin

Shielding his comrades from a grenade during a ridge assault

Sergeant William R. Jecelin earned the Medal of Honor for extraordinary courage during the Korean War, sacrificing his life to save fellow American soldiers near Saga, Korea, on 19 September 1950.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Jecelin enlisted in the United States Army on 31 August 1948. He departed for Far East Command in March 1949 and later served as a squad leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. In September 1950, his regiment participated in the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter.

On 19 September, Jecelin led soldiers across exposed rice fields and rocky terrain toward a heavily defended ridge. Facing intense enemy fire, he repeatedly rallied his men, advanced against entrenched positions, and sustained the assault through close-quarters fighting. When an enemy soldier threw a grenade among his comrades, Jecelin immediately covered it with his body, absorbing the blast and saving nearby soldiers at the cost of his own life.

His gallantry was recognized with the posthumous Medal of Honor, recorded in Department of the Army General Orders No. 24, dated 25 April 1951. General Omar N. Bradley presented the medal to his father at the Pentagon on 3 April 1951.

Medal of Honor citation

Sgt. Jecelin, Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His company was ordered to secure a prominent, saw-toothed ridge from a well-entrenched and heavily armed enemy. Unable to capture the objective in the first attempt, a frontal and flanking assault was launched. He led his platoon through heavy enemy fire and bursting shells, across rice fields and rocky terrain, in direct frontal attack on the ridge in order to draw fire away from the flanks. The unit advanced to the base of the cliff, where intense, accurate hostile fire stopped the attack. Realizing that an assault was the only solution, Sgt. Jecelin rose from his position firing his rifle and throwing grenades as he called on his men to follow him. Despite the intense enemy fire this attack carried to the crest of the ridge where the men were forced to take cover. Again he rallied his men and stormed the enemy strongpoint. With fixed bayonets they charged into the face of antitank fire and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. After clubbing and slashing this force into submission the platoon was forced to take cover from direct frontal fire of a self-propelled gun. Refusing to be stopped he leaped to his feet and through sheer personal courage and fierce determination led his men in a new attack. At this instant a well-camouflaged enemy soldier threw a grenade at the remaining members of the platoon. He immediately lunged and covered the grenade with his body, absorbing the full force of the explosion to save those around him. This incredible courage and willingness to sacrifice himself for his comrades so imbued them with fury that they completely eliminated the enemy force. Sgt. Jecelin's heroic leadership and outstanding gallantry reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of the military service.