Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Lee Ross Hartell was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on August 27, 1951 in Kobangsan-ni, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Battery A, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division. Hartell was 28 years old.
Hartell was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on January 16, 1952.
Hartell was born on August 23, 1923 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Danbury, Fairfield County, Connecticut. He is buried at St. Peter's Cemetery in Danbury, Connecticut.
Hartell is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 57 credited to Connecticut.
Official Medal of Honor citation
1st Lt. Hartell, a member of Battery A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. During the darkness of early morning, the enemy launched a ruthless attack against friendly positions on a rugged mountainous ridge. 1st Lt. Hartell, attached to Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment, as forward observer, quickly moved his radio to an exposed vantage on the ridgeline to adjust defensive fires. Realizing the tactical advantage of illuminating the area of approach, he called for flares and then directed crippling fire into the onrushing assailants. At this juncture a large force of hostile troops swarmed up the slope in banzai charge and came within 10 yards of 1st Lt. Hartell's position. 1st Lt. Hartell sustained a severe hand wound in the ensuing encounter, but grasped the microphone with his other hand and maintained his magnificent stand until the front and left flank of the company were protected by a close-in wall of withering fire, causing the fanatical foe to disperse and fall back momentarily. After the numerically superior enemy overran an outpost and was closing on his position, 1st Lt. Hartell, in a final radio call, urged the friendly elements to fire both batteries continuously. Although mortally wounded, 1st Lt. Hartell's intrepid actions contributed significantly to stemming the onslaught and enabled his company to maintain the strategic strongpoint. His consummate valor and unwavering devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on 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:
1st Lt. Hartell sustained a severe hand wound in the ensuing encounter, but grasped the microphone with his other hand and maintained his magnificent stand until the front and left flank of the company were protected by a close-in wall of withering fire, causing the fanatical foe to disperse and fall back momentarily.
Although mortally wounded, 1st Lt. Hartell's intrepid actions contributed significantly to stemming the onslaught and enabled his company to maintain the strategic strongpoint.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (August 27, 1951).
- Age at death: 28
- Resting place: St. Peter's Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Lee Ross Hartell 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 Connecticut →
Timeline
- August 23, 1923Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
- August 27, 1951Act of valor — Kobangsan-ni, KoreaAge 28. Battery A, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division Killed in action.
- January 16, 1952Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeSt. Peter's CemeteryDanbury, Connecticut
Biography
Lee Ross Hartell (August 23, 1923 – August 27, 1951) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 27, 1951, during the Battle of Bloody Ridge. He joined the army from Danbury, Connecticut, in 1949. By August 26, 1951, Hartell was on the ground as a forward observer with B Company, 9th Infantry Regiment at the base of Hill 700 near Kobanson-ni. Hill 700 was attacked and taken by B Company that day. But the Chinese mounted a major counterattack at 04:00. Hartell walked the artillery fire right up the hill on top of the charging enemy. Although wounded, he kept calling in artillery fire onto his hilltop.
From the Wikipedia article “Lee R. Hartell”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
