Luther H. Story

Luther H. Story (July 20, 1931 – September 1, 1950) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. Story joined the US Army in October 1948.[1] He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 1, 1950 during the Battle of Yongsan.

Luther H. Story
Medal of Honor recipient
Born(1931-07-20)July 20, 1931
Buena Vista, Georgia
DiedSeptember 1, 1950(1950-09-01) (aged 19)
near Agok, Korea
Place of burial
Officially listed as Missing in Action, his status was changed to Missing, Presumed Dead on September 1, 1953; remains never recovered; cenotaph marker at Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1948 - 1950
RankCorporal (posthumous)
UnitCompany A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
Battles/warsKorean War  †
AwardsMedal of Honor
Purple Heart

Posthumously named for Story is the Luther Story Bridge over the Flint River in his native state of Georgia.[2]

Luther H. Story

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Agok, Korea, September 1, 1950

Entered service at: Georgia. Born: July 20, 1931, Buena Vista, Georgia

G.O. No.: 70, August 2, 1951

Citation:

Pfc. Story, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. A savage daylight attack by elements of 3 enemy divisions penetrated the thinly held lines of the 9th Infantry. Company A beat off several banzai attacks but was bypassed and in danger of being cut off and surrounded. Pfc. Story, a weapons squad leader, was heavily engaged in stopping the early attacks and had just moved his squad to a position overlooking the Naktong River when he observed a large group of the enemy crossing the river to attack Company A. Seizing a machine gun from his wounded gunner he placed deadly fire on the hostile column killing or wounding an estimated 100 enemy soldiers. Facing certain encirclement the company commander ordered a withdrawal. During the move Pfc. Story noticed the approach of an enemy truck loaded with troops and towing an ammunition trailer. Alerting his comrades to take cover he fearlessly stood in the middle of the road, throwing grenades into the truck. Out of grenades he crawled to his squad, gathered up additional grenades and again attacked the vehicle. During the withdrawal the company was attacked by such superior numbers that it was forced to deploy in a rice field. Pfc. Story was wounded in this action, but, disregarding his wounds, rallied the men about him and repelled the attack. Realizing that his wounds would hamper his comrades he refused to retire to the next position but remained to cover the company's withdrawal. When last seen he was firing every weapon available and fighting off another hostile assault. Private Story's extraordinary heroism, aggressive leadership, and supreme devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.[3]

See also

Notes
  1. http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1686
  2. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 214. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  3. ""LUTHER H. STORY" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Retrieved 2007-12-30.

References
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
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