PFC Leonard Harold Kravitz

PFC Leonard Harold Kravitz, who was killed in action in the Korean War while defending against a Chinese attack and saving most of his platoon, and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

The citation which awarded Private First Class Kravitz the Distinguished Service Cross told of his bravery on March 6, 1951 near Yangpyong, Korea, following two previous attacks by regular troops of the Chinese Army. "(T)he enemy launched a fanatical banzai charge with heavy supporting fire... When the machine gunner was wounded in the initial phase of action, Private Kravitz immediately seized the weapon and poured devastating fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants...

"Upon order to withdraw, Private Kravitz voluntarily remained to provide protective fire for the retiring elements. Traversing the gun to the left to cover the infiltrating enemy and ignoring the pleadings of his comrades to fall back, he fearlessly maintained his position. Detecting a column of Communist troops moving toward friendly positions, he swept the hostile soldiers with deadly accurate fire, killing the entire group. His destructive retaliation caused the enemy to concentrate vicious fire on his position and enabled the friendly elements to effect a withdrawal."

American forces subsequently retook the ground where Kravitz had made his stand. Kravitz, 20, was found dead next to his gun. According to the citation, "numerous enemy dead lay in and around his emplacement."