Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Edward Charles Krzyzowski was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on August 31, 1951 near Tondul, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Krzyzowski was 37 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on March 26, 1952.
Krzyzowski was born on January 16, 1914 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. His Medal of Honor is credited to Cicero, Cook County, Illinois. Krzyzowski died on September 3, 1951 in Korea, at the age of 37. He is buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.
Krzyzowski is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capt. Krzyzowski, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy as commanding officer of Company B. Spearheading an assault against strongly defended Hill 700, his company came under vicious crossfire and grenade attack from enemy bunkers. Creeping up the fire-swept hill, he personally eliminated one bunker with his grenades and wiped out a second with carbine fire. Forced to retire to more tenable positions for the night, the company, led by Capt. Krzyzowski, resumed the attack the following day, gaining several hundred yards and inflicting numerous casualties. Overwhelmed by the numerically superior hostile force, he ordered his men to evacuate the wounded and move back. Providing protective fire for their safe withdrawal, he was wounded again by grenade fragments, but refused evacuation and continued to direct the defense. On 3 September, he led his valiant unit in another assault which overran several hostile positions, but again the company was pinned down by murderous fire. Courageously advancing alone to an open knoll to plot mortar concentrations against the hill, he was killed instantly by an enemy sniper's fire. Capt. Krzyzowski's consummate fortitude, heroic leadership, and gallant self-sacrifice, so clearly demonstrated throughout three days of bitter combat, reflect the highest credit and lasting glory on himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and injuries
What the citation records about his wounds:
Providing protective fire for their safe withdrawal, he was wounded again by grenade fragments, but refused evacuation and continued to direct the defense.
- Awarded posthumously — died September 3, 1951.
- Age at death: 37
- Resting place: Resurrection Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Edward Charles Krzyzowski received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Korean War.
Places
- Born: Chicago — map
- Died: Gangwon Province — map
- Buried: Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- January 16, 1914Born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
- August 31, 1951Act of valor — near Tondul, KoreaAge 37. Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division
- September 3, 1951Died in KoreaAge 37.
- March 26, 1952Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeResurrection CemeteryJustice, Illinois
Biography
Edward Charles Krzyzowski (January 16, 1914 – September 3, 1951) was an officer in the United States Army who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions from August 31 to September 3, 1951 during the Battle of Bloody Ridge in the Korean War.
From the Wikipedia article “Edward C. Krzyzowski”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
