Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Sergeant Charles Richard Long was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on February 12, 1951 near Hoeng-song, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Long was 27 years old.
Long was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on January 16, 1952.
Long was born on December 10, 1923 in Kansas City, Clay County, Missouri. He is buried at Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, Missouri. His medal is held by Truman Presidential Library, Independence, MO.
Long is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 78 credited to Missouri.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Sgt. Long, a member of Company M, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. When Company M, in a defensive perimeter on Hill 300, was viciously attacked by a numerically superior hostile force at approximately 0300 hours and ordered to withdraw, Sgt. Long, a forward observer for the mortar platoon, voluntarily remained at his post to provide cover by directing mortar fire on the enemy. Maintaining radio contact with his platoon, Sgt. Long coolly directed accurate mortar fire on the advancing foe. He continued firing his carbine and throwing hand grenades until his position was surrounded and he was mortally wounded. Sgt. Long's inspirational, valorous action halted the onslaught, exacted a heavy toll of enemy casualties, and enabled his company to withdraw, reorganize, counterattack, and regain the hill strongpoint. His unflinching courage and noble self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
He continued firing his carbine and throwing hand grenades until his position was surrounded and he was mortally wounded.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (February 12, 1951).
- Age at death: 27
- Resting place: Mount Washington Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Charles Richard Long received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II, Korean War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →
Timeline
- December 10, 1923Born in Kansas City, Clay County, Missouri
- February 12, 1951Act of valor — near Hoeng-song, KoreaAge 27. Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division Killed in action.
- January 16, 1952Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeMount Washington CemeteryIndependence, Missouri
Biography
Charles Richard Long (December 10, 1923 – February 12, 1951) was a United States Army soldier who received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War. A native of Independence, Missouri, Long joined the Army after high school and served in Europe during World War II. Recalled to active duty for the Korean War, he served as a sergeant and forward observer for a mortar platoon.
From the Wikipedia article “Charles R. Long”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
