Herbert A Littleton (July 1, 1930 – April 22, 1951) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for falling on an enemy grenade to save the lives of fellow Marines during the Battle of Hwacheon in the Korean War.
Early life Littleton, known as "Hal", was born on July 1, 1930, in Mena, Arkansas. His parents, Paul and Maude Littleton, later moved their family to Black Hawk, South Dakota. He attended elementary school in Spearfish, South Dakota, and East Port Orchard, Washington, and high school in Sturgis, South Dakota, where he played basketball and football. Star Tribune, September 3, 2012 Marine Corps University He was employed as an electrical appliance serviceman by an electrical appliance company in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Military career While living in Black Hawk, Littleton enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on July 29, 1948, for a one-year term and took recruit training in San Diego, California. Star Tribune, September 3, 2012 He graduated on October 2, and afterwards completed the Marine Corps field telephone course. He was assigned as a telephoneman and message center man with the Signal Battalion at Camp Pendleton. He was honorably discharged at Camp Pendleton with the rank of private first class on July 28, 1949. On July 29, he re-enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. In 1950, he moved to Nampa, Idaho, and worked as a lineman for Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph.
After the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, Littleton was called to active duty in September. Star Tribune, September 3, 2012 He trained at Camp Pendleton and was sent to Korea with the 3rd Replacement Draft. On December 17, he was assigned as a radio operator with a four-man artillery forward observer team in Item ("I") Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division and began participating in operations in south and central Korea. Korean War Project Marine Corps University
Littleton earned the nation's highest military award for valor
On April 22, 1951, Littleton's observation team was serving with C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, on Hill 44 in Chuncheon, South Korea. Several grenades were thrown at the team's forward observation post. Realising the danger, Littleton deliberately fell upon and smothered one grenade, which exploded and mortally wounded him. By doing so, he saved the lives of the other three Marines, including the officer and forward observer in charge of Littleton's team, during the early morning enemy counterattack on C Company. He also prevented the radio from being damaged by taking it off before he was killed. The radio was used afterwards to direct artillery fire in order to repulse the Chinese attack during the battle to take the hill.
Memorial services were held for Littleton on October 17, 1951, in Nampa, Idaho.
Littleton was the 16th Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in Korea. Marine Corps University He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman in June 1952 and his parents were presented Littleton's Medal of Honor on August 19, 1952, during a ceremony at the Naval Reserve Training Center in Boise, Idaho, which included the activation of the 44th Rifle Company, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
The Marine Corps League's Detachment 1261 in Mena, Arkansas, was named after Littleton in December 2006.Marine Corps League #1261 On September 7, 2000, a Littleton Medal of Honor monument was dedicated to him in Spearfish, South Dakota. Star Tribune, September 3, 2012 In December 2009, the post office in Nampa was renamed in his honor.
Medal of Honor citation The White House,
Washington June 16, 1952
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HERBERT A. LITTLETON UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE
Awards and Decorations Littleton's military awards include the following:
1st rowMedal of Honor2nd rowPurple HeartCombat Action RibbonNavy Presidential Unit Citation3rd rowMarine Corps Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service MedalKorean Service Medal4th rowKorean Presidential Unit CitationUnited Nations Service Medal KoreaKorean War Service Medal
See also
List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients
Notes
References
External links