Sergeant Eduardo Corral Gomez was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on September 3, 1950 in Tabu-dong, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Gomez was 30 years old.
The medal was presented on March 18, 2014, 63 years after the action — the White House to his nephew by President Barack Obama.
Gomez was born on October 28, 1919 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. Gomez died on January 29, 1972 in Cuajmalpa de Morelos, Mexico, at the age of 52. He is buried at Panteon Civil de San Nicolas Tolentino in Cuajmalpa de Morelos, Mexico.
Gomez is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Sergeant Eduardo C. Gomez distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy in Tabu-dong, Korea on September 3, 1950. That afternoon, while conducting combat patrol, Sergeant Gomez’ company was ruthlessly attacked by a hostile force which moved within seventy-five yards of the command post before it was immobilized by rocket fire. However, an enemy tank and multiple enemy machineguns continued to rake the company perimeter with devastating fire. Realizing the tank posed a serious threat to the entire perimeter, Sergeant Gomez voluntarily crawled thirty yards across an open rice field vulnerable to enemy observation and fire, boarded the tank, pried open one of the hatches on the turret and dropped an activated grenade into the hull, killing the crew. Wounded in the left side while returning to his position, Sergeant Gomez refused evacuation. Observing that the tripod of a.30 caliber machinegun was rendered inoperable by enemy fire, he cradled the weapon in his arms, returned to the forward defensive positions, and swept the assaulting force with withering fire. Although his weapon overheated and burned his hands and his painful wound still bled, Sergeant Gomez maintained his stand and, upon orders to withdraw in the face of overwhelming enemy superiority, remained to provide protective fire. Sergeant Gomez continued to pour accurate fire into the enemy ranks, exacting a heavy toll in casualties and retarding their advance. Sergeant Gomez would not consent to leave his post for medical attention until the company established new defensive positions. Sergeant Gomez’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Eduardo Corral Gomez received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II, Korean War.
Places
- Born: Los Angeles — map
Timeline
- October 28, 1919Born in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
- September 3, 1950Act of valor — Tabu-dong, KoreaAge 30. Company I, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
- January 29, 1972Died in Cuajmalpa de Morelos, MexicoAge 52.
- March 18, 2014Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe White House to his nephew by President Barack Obama
- Resting placePanteon Civil de San Nicolas TolentinoCuajmalpa de Morelos
Biography
Eduardo Corral Gomez (28 October 1919 – 29 January 1972) was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Tabu-dong on 3 September 1950.
From the Wikipedia article “Eduardo C. Gomez”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
