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Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
M/Sgt. Ernest Richard Kouma, US Army, 72d Tank Battalion
1st Lt. Carl H. Dodd, Sgt. John Albert Pittman and Master Sergeant Ernest Richard Kouma
Stationed on Camp Casey, 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, "First Tank" is located 20 kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone. The unit lives and conducts daily operations within the max effective range of most North Korean artillery and is situated on their main avenue of approach into the ROK. As a result of its close proximity to threat forces, 1-72 AR is constantly focused on readiness and training. First Tank is located in Dragon Valley, apart from the rest of Camp Casey.
The 72nd Armor Battalion traces its lineage from its activation as Company A, 5th Armored Regiment and later the 717th Tank Battalion, 16th Armored Division. The 717th participated in the Rhineland and Central European campaign, mostly notable in the support of the 79th Infantry Division. Reorganized twice in the post war years of 1948, the battalion was then known as Company A, 717th Heavy Tank Battalion and was stationed in the vast Mohave Desert in a small post known as Camp Irwin, California.
On 15 October 1948, the battalion began its long association with the Warriors of the 2d Infantry Division, when it was designated as Company A, 72d Heavy Tank Battalion in Fort Lewis, Washington. On 25 June 950, the United States again faced aggression as the North Korean Army invaded south across the 38th parallel. The men of the 72d Armor answered the call to arms and on 2 August, 1950, under the command of LTC Clark Webber, boarded the United States Navy Transport, The General William Mitchell, with a destination of Pusan, Korea. Equipped with the M4A3 E8 (Easy Eight) Sherman, the 72d Heavy Tank Battalion quickly earned the reputation as tenacious fighters. They adapted quickly to a terrain that was foolishly termed "untankable". On 1 September, 1950, MSG Slarrow destroyed the first Korean T-34.
On the same day the indomitable spirit of the battalion was embodied in the actions of MSG Ernest Kouma, who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions against the enemy in the vicinity of Angok, Korea. His unit was engaged in supporting infantry elements on the Naktong River front. Near midnight on 31 August, a hostile force estimated at 500 crossed the river and launched a fierce attack against the infantry positions, inflicting heavy casualties. A withdrawal was ordered and his armored unit was given the mission of covering the movement until a secondary position could be established. The enemy assault overran two tanks, destroyed one, and forced another to withdraw. Suddenly Sergeant Ernest Kouma discovered that his tank was the only obstacle in the path of the hostile onslaught. Holding his ground, he gave fire orders to his crew and remained in position throughout the night, fighting off repeated enemy attacks. During one fierce assault, the enemy surrounded his tank and he leaped from the armored turret, exposing himself to a hail of hostile fire, manned the .50 caliber machinegun mounted on the rear deck, and delivered pointblank fire into the fanatical foe. His machinegun emptied, he fired his pistol and threw grenades to keep the enemy from his tank. After more than 9 hours of constant combat and close-in fighting, he withdrew his vehicle to friendly lines. During the withdrawal through 8 miles of hostile territory, Sergeant Kouma continued to inflict casualties upon the enemy and exhausted his ammunition in destroying three hostile machinegun positions. During this action, Sergeant Kouma killed an estimated 250 enemy soldiers. His magnificent stand allowed the Infantry sufficient time to reestablish defensive positions. Rejoining his company, although suffering intensely from his wounds, he attempted to resupply his tank and return to the battle area.
The 72d supported many units during the course of the conflict. I, IX, and X Crops and notable the 27th British Brigade when Company A supported the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry near the village of Kapyong. This decisive victory earned First Tankers the Presidential Unit Citation.
Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients Sgt. John Albert Pittman, 1st Lt. Carl H. Dodd and Master Sgt. Ernest Richard Kouma, US Army with President Harry S. Truman at the White House
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant (then Sfc.) U.S. Army, Company A, 72d Tank Battalion. Place and date: Vicinity of Agok, Korea, 31 August and 1 September 1950. Entered service at: Dwight, Nebr. Born: 23 November 1919, Dwight, Nebr. G.O. No.: 38, 4 June 1951. Citation: M/Sgt. Kouma, a tank commander in Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His unit was engaged in supporting infantry elements on the Naktong River front. Near midnight on 31 August, a hostile force estimated at 500 crossed the river and launched a fierce attack against the infantry positions, inflicting heavy casualties. A withdrawal was ordered and his armored unit was given the mission of covering the movement until a secondary position could be established. The enemy assault overran 2 tanks, destroyed 1 and forced another to withdraw. Suddenly M/Sgt. Kouma discovered that his tank was the only obstacle in the path of the hostile onslaught. Holding his ground, he gave fire orders to his crew and remained in position throughout the night, fighting off repeated enemy attacks. During 1 fierce assault, the enemy surrounded his tank and he leaped from the armored turret, exposing himself to a hail of hostile fire, manned the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the rear deck, and delivered pointblank fire into the fanatical foe. His machine gun emptied, he fired his pistol and threw grenades to keep the enemy from his tank. After more than 9 hours of constant combat and close-in fighting, he withdrew his vehicle to friendly lines. During the withdrawal through 8 miles of hostile territory, M/Sgt. Kouma continued to inflict casualties upon the enemy and exhausted his ammunition in destroying 3 hostile machine gun positions. During this action, M/Sgt. Kouma killed an estimated 250 enemy soldiers. His magnificent stand allowed the infantry sufficient time to reestablish defensive positions. Rejoining his company, although suffering intensely from his wounds, he attempted to resupply his tank and return to the battle area. While being evacuated for medical treatment, his courage was again displayed when he requested to return to the front. M/Sgt. Kouma's superb leadership, heroism, and intense devotion to duty reflect the highest credit on himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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