Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Corporal Clifton T. Speicher was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on June 14, 1952 near Minarigol, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company F, 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. Speicher was 21 years old.
Speicher was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 5, 1953.
Speicher was born on March 25, 1931 in Gray, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at Beam Cemetery in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. His medal is held by Somerset County Courthouse Annex, Somerset, PA.
Speicher is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Cpl. Speicher distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While participating in an assault to secure a key terrain feature, Cpl. Speicher's squad was pinned down by withering small-arms, mortar, and machine-gun fire. Although already wounded he left the comparative safety of his position, and made a daring charge against the machine-gun emplacement. Within 10 yards of the goal, he was again wounded by small-arms fire but continued on, entered the bunker, killed two hostile soldiers with his rifle, a third with his bayonet, and silenced the machine gun. Inspired by this incredible display of valor, the men quickly moved up and completed the mission. Dazed and shaken, he walked to the foot of the hill where he collapsed and died. Cpl. Speicher's consummate sacrifice and unflinching devotion to duty reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Although already wounded he left the comparative safety of his position, and made a daring charge against the machine-gun emplacement.
Within 10 yards of the goal, he was again wounded by small-arms fire but continued on, entered the bunker, killed two hostile soldiers with his rifle, a third with his bayonet, and silenced the machine gun.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (June 14, 1952).
- Age at death: 21
- Resting place: Beam Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Clifton T. Speicher received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Korean War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- March 25, 1931Born in Gray, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
- June 14, 1952Act of valor — near Minarigol, KoreaAge 21. Company F, 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- August 5, 1953Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeBeam CemeteryJennerstown, Pennsylvania
Biography
Clifton T. Speicher (March 25, 1931 – June 14, 1952) was a United States Army soldier in the Korean War who posthumously received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Born on March 25, 1931, in Gray, Pennsylvania, Speicher joined the Army from that city in 1951. By June 14, 1952, he was serving in Korea as a corporal in Company F of the 223rd Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division. On that day, during an attack against a hostile position near Minarigol, his squad came under intense small-arms, mortar, and machine gun fire. Although wounded, Speicher charged the machine gun nest and killed the occupants with his rifle and bayonet.
From the Wikipedia article “Clifton T. Speicher”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
