Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private First Class Mack A. Jordan was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on November 15, 1951 near Kumsong, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with 3d Platoon, Company K, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Jordan was 22 years old.
Jordan was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on January 7, 1953 — the Pentagon, presented by Sec. of the Army Frank C. Pace to his family.
Jordan was born on December 8, 1928 in Collins, Covington County, Mississippi. He is buried at Station Creek Cemetery in Collins, Mississippi. His medal is held by Mississippi Armed Forces Museum, Camp Shelby, MS.
Jordan is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 18 credited to Mississippi.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Pfc. Jordan, a member of Company K, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. As a squad leader of the 3d Platoon, he was participating in a night attack on key terrain against a fanatical hostile force when the advance was halted by intense small-arms and automatic-weapons fire and a vicious barrage of hand grenades. Upon orders for the platoon to withdraw and reorganize, Pfc. Jordan voluntarily remained behind to provide covering fire. Crawling toward an enemy machine-gun emplacement, he threw three grenades and neutralized the gun. He then rushed the position delivering a devastating hail of fire, killing several of the enemy and forcing the remainder to fall back to new positions. He courageously attempted to move forward to silence another machine gun but, before he could leave his position, the ruthless foe hurled explosives down the hill and in the ensuing blast both legs were severed. Despite mortal wounds, he continued to deliver deadly fire and held off the assailants until the platoon returned. Pfc. Jordan's unflinching courage and gallant self-sacrifice reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the infantry and the military service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
What the citation records about his wounds:
Despite mortal wounds, he continued to deliver deadly fire and held off the assailants until the platoon returned.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (November 15, 1951).
- Age at death: 22
- Resting place: Station Creek Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Mack A. Jordan 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 Mississippi →
Timeline
- December 8, 1928Born in Collins, Covington County, Mississippi
- November 15, 1951Act of valor — near Kumsong, KoreaAge 22. 3d Platoon, Company K, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- January 7, 1953Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe Pentagon, presented by Sec. of the Army Frank C. Pace to his family
- Resting placeStation Creek CemeteryCollins, Mississippi
Biography
Mack Alvin Jordan (December 8, 1928 – November 15, 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 November 15, 1951.
From the Wikipedia article “Mack A. Jordan”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
