Sergeant First Class William S. Sitman was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on February 14, 1951 near Chipyong-ni, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sitman was 27 years old.
Sitman was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on January 16, 1952.
Sitman was born on August 9, 1923 in Bellwood, Blair County, Pennsylvania. He is buried at Logan Valley Cemetery in Bellwood, Pennsylvania.
Sitman is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Sfc. Sitman distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. Sfc. Sitman, a machine-gun section leader of Company M, was attached to Company I, under attack by a numerically superior hostile force. During the encounter when an enemy grenade knocked out his machine gun, a squad from Company I immediately emplaced a light machine gun, and Sfc. Sitman and his men remained to provide security for the crew. In the ensuing action, the enemy lobbed a grenade into the position and Sfc. Sitman, fully aware of the odds against him, selflessly threw himself on it, absorbing the full force of the explosion with his body. Although mortally wounded in this fearless display of valor, his intrepid act saved five men from death or serious injury, and enabled them to continue inflicting withering fire on the ruthless foe throughout the attack. Sfc. Sitman's noble self-sacrifice and consummate devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and uphold the honored 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 mortally wounded in this fearless display of valor, his intrepid act saved five men from death or serious injury, and enabled them to continue inflicting withering fire on the ruthless foe throughout the attack.
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (February 14, 1951).
- Age at death: 27
- Resting place: Logan Valley Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, William S. Sitman 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
- August 9, 1923Born in Bellwood, Blair County, Pennsylvania
- February 14, 1951Act of valor — near Chipyong-ni, KoreaAge 27. Company A, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division Killed in action.
- January 16, 1952Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeLogan Valley CemeteryBellwood, Pennsylvania
Biography
William Samuel Sitman (August 9, 1923 – February 14, 1951) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on February 14, 1951, during the Battle of Chipyong-ni. Sitman joined the Army from his birthplace of Bellwood, Pennsylvania in February 1943.
From the Wikipedia article “William S. Sitman”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
