William Samuel Sitman

Five soldiers survived the Battle of Chipyong-ni because Sergeant First Class William Samuel Sitman chose, in a matter of seconds, to place their lives before his own. A veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, Sitman became one of the United States Army's most enduring examples of battlefield self-sacrifice when he deliberately covered an enemy grenade with his body on 14 February 1951.

William Samuel Sitman was born on 9 August 1923 in Bellwood, Pennsylvania. He entered the United States Army in February 1943 and served until February 1946 during World War II. Contemporary U.S. military records confirm that he participated in the Rhineland campaign in Europe, where he earned the Combat Infantryman Badge. After a period in the Enlisted Reserve Corps, Sitman returned to active military life by enlisting in the Regular Army in September 1949. He deployed overseas with the 2nd Infantry Division in August 1950, during the opening months of the Korean War.

By February 1951, Sitman was serving as a Sergeant First Class and machine-gun section leader with Company M, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. His regiment was fighting at Chipyong-ni, a critical defensive position where American and allied troops faced repeated attacks by numerically superior enemy forces. The battle became one of the defining engagements of the Korean War and an important demonstration that United Nations forces could hold their ground against massed Chinese attacks.

During the fighting on 14 February 1951, Sitman's machine-gun section had been attached to Company I. According to his official Medal of Honor citation, an enemy grenade knocked his machine gun out of action. Soldiers from Company I immediately set up a light machine gun, while Sitman and his men remained in position to protect its crew. The fighting continued at extremely close range. Then another enemy grenade landed among them.

Sitman understood exactly what was about to happen.

Rather than seek cover, he threw himself onto the grenade and absorbed the explosion with his own body. He was mortally wounded, but his action saved five soldiers from death or serious injury and allowed the surviving gun crew to continue firing against the attacking force. The official citation described his conduct as an act of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, concluding that his self-sacrifice and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of military service.

Sergeant First Class William S. Sitman was 27 years old when he was killed in action at Chipyong-ni. His heroism was formally recognized in Department of the Army General Orders No. 20, dated 1 February 1952, which awarded him the Medal of Honor posthumously in the name of Congress. The order identified him as Service No. RA33571970, Infantry, United States Army, and specifically recorded his actions near Chipyong-ni on 14 February 1951.

His Medal of Honor had already been presented to his widow on 16 January 1952 at the Pentagon by Secretary of Defense Robert A. Lovett. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society confirms the presentation date, location, and recipient of the posthumous presentation.

Sitman's military service stretched across two wars. His verified record includes combat service in the Rhineland during World War II and the Korean War campaigns that culminated in his death at Chipyong-ni. His service is also represented by the Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with campaign participation, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with four bronze service stars, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, and qualifying unit citations. For the purposes of the historical ribbon reconstruction, awards for which primary individual documentation has not yet been located are not treated as confirmed.

Today, Sergeant First Class William Samuel Sitman rests in Logan Valley Cemetery in Bellwood, Pennsylvania, the community where his life began. His Medal of Honor is more than a record of extraordinary courage. It preserves the story of a soldier who, with almost no time to decide, chose to shield five other men from an explosion he knew he could not survive.

William Samuel Sitman's final act at Chipyong-ni lasted only seconds. Its meaning has endured for generations.