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Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Colonel Reginald Rodney Myers, USMC
Colonel Reginald R. Myers, who earned the Medal of Honor in Korea, retired from active duty in the Marine Corps on 1 May 1967. As a major during the Korean conflict, Colonel Myers earned the Medal of Honor for fearlessly leading 250 United Nations troops to victory over 4,000 of the enemy.
The battle occurred 29 November 1950, as the Chinese Communists threatened to envelop United States Tenth Army Corps forces at the Chosin Reservoir. Success of Colonel Myers' mission proved vital to the defense of Hagaru-ri. He was presented the Nation's highest military decoration by President Truman during ceremonies at the White House, 29 October 1951.
Reginald Rodney Myers was born 26 November 1919 at Boise, Idaho. He received his early schooling and graduated from high school in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, in June 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He attained the rank of cadet colonel in the Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University. On 1 September 1941, he resigned his Army Reserve commission to accept appointment as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
Lieutenant Myers completed Marine Officers' Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, then served as a company commander at the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. In June 1942, he joined the Marine detachment on board the USS New Orleans for a year duty at sea. He was promoted to first lieutenant in October 1942, and to captain in April 1943.
In July 1943, Captain Myers became Commanding Officer of the Marine detachment on board the USS Minneapolis. While on the New Orleans, he fought the Japanese at Guadalcanal, Tulagi, the Eastern Solomons, and Tassafaronga. Later, aboard the Minneapolis, he participated in the Gilbert, Marshall, Marianas, and Western Caroline Islands campaigns. Returning briefly to the United States in October 1944, he was promoted to major in January 1945.
Major Myers again returned to the Pacific area in June 1945, and served with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, during the assault on Okinawa, and in the landing on and occupation of Northern China. He returned to the United States in May 1946, and served at Mare Island, California, Norfolk, Virginia and Cherry Point, North Carolina. At Cherry Point, he served as Assistant G-4, Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, and 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, from August 1948 until May 1950.
Ordered to Korea in July 1950, Major Myers served as Executive Officer, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. For his part in the Inchon landing, 15 September 1950, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, and for his heroism in helping to rescue two wounded Marines four days later he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star Medal. Although he emerged unwounded from the Hagaru-ri engagement which earned him the Medal of Honor, he was wounded in action 25 April 1951.
Major Myers returned to the United States in June 1951. That August he reported to the Basic School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico as a battalion commander. While stationed at Quantico, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1951.
Assigned next to Washington, D. C., Lieutenant Colonel Myers served as Inspector-Instructor of the 5th Special Infantry Battalion, USMCR, from September 1952 through August 1953; and Inspector-Instructor, 13th Infantry Battalion, USMCR, from September 1953 through July 1955. Following this assignment, he entered the Senior School at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, and completed the course in June 1956.
Lieutenant Colonel Myers remained at Quantico until April 1958, serving as Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, and Executive Officer, Basic School, respectively. From July 1958 until August 1961, he was assigned as Assistant Naval Attache at the American Embassy in London, England. During this assignment, he was promoted to colonel in July 1960.
In September 1961, Colonel Myers was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, serving as Head, International Plans Section, Strategic Plans Division, until June 1963. The following month, he joined the 3d Marine Division on Okinawa for duty as Troop Exercise Coordinator until June 1964.
Upon his return to the United States, he completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in July 1965. He received his Master of Science degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University in September 1965.
Colonel Myers was assigned duty at Headquarters Marine Corps with the G-l Division in August 1965. He served briefly as Director, Marine Corps Personnel Research and Analysis Office, then as Executive Officer to the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-l.
The colonel's medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor; the Legion of Merit; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat 'V and one Gold Star in lieu of second award, the Letter of Commendation With Combat V"; the Purple Heart; the Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze stars indicative of second through fourth awards; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia clasp; the China Service Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal with one silver star indicative of five bronze stars; the United Nations Service Medal; and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
CITATION:
Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, (Rein.). Place and date: Near Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 November 1950. Entered service at: Boise, Idaho. Born: 26 November 1919, Boise, Idaho. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer of the 3d Battalion, in action against enemy aggressor forces. Assuming command of a composite unit of Army and Marine service and headquarters elements totaling approximately 250 men, during a critical stage in the vital defense of the strategically important military base at Hagaru-ri, Maj. Myers immediately initiated a determined and aggressive counterattack against a well-entrenched and cleverly concealed enemy force numbering an estimated 4,000. Severely handicapped by a lack of trained personnel and experienced leaders in his valiant efforts to regain maximum ground prior to daylight, he persisted in constantly exposing himself to intense, accurate, and sustained hostile fire in order to direct and supervise the employment of his men and to encourage and spur them on in pressing the attack. Inexorably moving forward up the steep, snow-covered slope with his depleted group in the face of apparently insurmountable odds, he concurrently directed artillery and mortar fire with superb skill and although losing 170 of his men during 14 hours of raging combat in subzero temperatures, continued to reorganize his unit and spearhead the attack which resulted in 600 enemy killed and 500 wounded. By his exceptional and valorous leadership throughout, Maj. Myers contributed directly to the success of his unit in restoring the perimeter. His resolute spirit of self-sacrifice and unfaltering devotion to duty enhance and sustain the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service .
Courtesy of Find A Grave
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