Non-U.S. winners of U.S. gallantry awards
The Unknown Warrior
On November 11 1920, an unidentified British Soldier from a battlefield of the First World War was buried at the western end of the Nave of Westminster Abbey. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior as it came to be known, was to serve as a memorial to all of the soldiers who had no known grave. On October 17 1921, the Unknown Warrior was presented with the Medal of Honor, the highest award for gallantry conferred by the United States, by General John J. Pershing, Chief of Staff of the United States Army. The medal hangs in a frame on a pillar close to the tomb.
Chosin Reservoir, November 27-December 10 1950
Task Force Drysdale, a combined unit of the US 1st Marine Division which included 41 Commando, Royal Marines formed in November 1950 at Hungnam in South Korea, with the aim of fighting its way to reinforce the garrison at Hagaru on the southern tip of the Chosin Resovoir. The column of Drysdale came under sustained attack almost from the off, but was eventually able to force its way through to Hagaru, with 321 casualties sustained. On entering the town, 41 Cdo was nominated as the garrison reserve, and was called into action on the night of 29th/30th, when part of the Commando was called on to reinforce a unit of the USMC that was part of Drysdale on a hill overlooking the Chinese lines. During this night, the two Chinese divisions facing them sustained over 5000 casualties. Despite this, other United Nations forces along the reservoir were failing to hold the lines. So, the force at Hagaru were ordered to withdraw back to Hungnam. 41 Commando, along with the 5th Marine Battalion, brought up the rear, beginning on 6th December. The force stopped at Koto-Ri on 8th December, where a mass grave for 117 dead troops was prepared. 41 Cdo moved out in the afternoon to guard the high ground over the formation against infiltration during the night. On 9th December, the formation moved out to march the remaining distance to the Hungnam bridgehead, getting clear by the 11th December and embarking with 22,000 US Marines to be shipped down to Pusan. The action had left 41 Cdo with 93 casualties, and so the unit was withdrawn to Japan for reinforcement during the winter of 1950–51.
The actions of 1st Marine Division led to it receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation. Although 41 Commando was not mentioned in the original citation, representations to the USMC subsequently led to it also receiving the award, which was accepted in 1957. The streamer was born on the Regimental Colour of 41 Commando, Royal Marines until its disbandment in 1981.
Battle of the Imjin River, April 22–25 1951
During the Battle of the Imjin River The 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, together with C Troop 170 Heavy Mortar Battery Royal Artillery were awarded the United States Distinguished Unit Citation their part in the battle.
In April 1951, the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (The 'Glorious Glosters'), which had arrived in Korea as part of the United Nations force sent to defend South Korea against the communist invasion by North Korea the year before, was part of the British 29th Infantry Brigade holding the defensive line along the Imjin River. The UN command required time to reorganise its forces against the three Chinese divisions massed on the other side of the river, so they ordered the Glosters to hold for as long as possible. On April 22nd, the Chinese made their first attempt to cross the river, only to be stopped four times by a platoon from 'C' Company, with the defenders only withdrawing due to lack of ammunition. For this action, Lt Guy Temple was awarded the Military Cross. However, the Chinese had used another crossing point that was not displayed on the maps, and were thus able to attack the main body of the battalion.
The attacks continued through the night of the 22nd into the 23rd, with 'B' company becoming involved. By the afternoon of the 23rd, half of 'A' Company were either dead or wounded. In an attempt to prevent the Chinese setting up a machine gun post on a hill overlooking their position, Lt Philip Curtis led a charge across open ground. Despite being severely wounded, he shrugged off attempts by his men to pull him back and charged against the machine guns alone, throwing grenades at the Chinese and knocking out one machine gun as he ran before he was killed. For this, Curtis was awaded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
By now the Chinese had drawn 'D' Company into the action, with no other UN troops for two miles. Through the night of the 23rd and into the 24th, 'B' Company fought off seven Chinese assaults, with the forward lines being overwhelmed only by force of numbers. Despite its supplies of ammunition and explosives being exhausted, the company fought on with bayonets fixed, and with entrenching tools and even fists. To prevent his battalion being wiped out, the commanding officer, Lt Colonel Carne ordered his remaining men to concentrate on Hill 235. By this time, the rest of 29th Infantry Brigade had withdrawn, leaving the Glosters alone.
On the 25th, the last of the ammunition was handed out. The Chinese, sensing the end, had their bugles build a crescendo of noise. To counter this, Drum-Major Buss was ordered to fetch a bugle and play every call he knew, "except retreat".
Colonel Carne gave the order to retreat at 0600 on the 25th; none of the wounded could attempt this, so Captain Robert Hickey, the Medical Officer, Sergeant Brisland, his assistant and Chaplain Sam Davies volunteered to stay with them. The majority of the remainder of the battalion headed south, with 'D' Company going north. Most of those that headed south were eventually captured by the Chinese, while a total of 5 officers and 41 men of 'D' Company were able to reach the UN lines. For his leadership in the retreat, Captain Mike Harvey was awarded the Military Cross.
In the four days of the action, the Chinese forces failed to penetrate the line held by the Glosters. In recognition, together with 'C' Troop, 170 Motor Battery, Royal Artillery, the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment was awarded the United States Distinguished Unit Citation:
Distinguished Unit Citation of 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
The streamer of the citation, bearing the honour 'Solma-ri', was attached to the Regimental Colour of the 1st Battalion. Since the amalgamation of the Gloucestershire Regiment, this tradition has been assumed by the 1st Battalion, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.
Battle of Kapyong, April 22–24 1951
In April 1951, the Chinese People's Liberation Army had begun their spring offensive against the United Nations forces in South Korea. On the 22nd April, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) and the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry ("The Pats") were in the vanguard of the 1st Commonwealth Division's 27th Brigade, defending the Kapyong valley.
During the night of the 22nd, the PLA broke through the lines of the South Korean 6th Division. Reinforcements from the 27th Brigade was called into action to hold the advance, with the Pats on Hill 677 and 3RAR on Hill 504. These were expected to be secure defensive positions, with the front line several kilometers away. However, the retreat of the Korean forces saw the Chinese move forward quickly, until they came into contact with the defenders.
Initially, the Chinese came into contact with 3RAR, before moving along the line to face the Pats. In both cases they met with dogged resistance throughout the 23rd and into the 24th. Despite heroic defence, the Chinese were able to move slowly towards the Commonwealth lines. For 24 hours the Pats were surrounded, could only be re-supplied by air and roadblocks meant that 3RAR could not be re-supplied at all. The situation meant that on the evening of the 24th, when 3RAR was ordered to withdraw from its position, with rifle companies leapfrogging (one company moving, then stopping to provide covering fire while the next company moves past it) each other along the ridgeline of Hill 504. By 2300 on the 24th, the entire battalion had safely withdrawn. The Pats, still surrounded by the Chinese, continued their defence of the position until the following day, when the roadblocks were broken, allowing the Canadian soldiers to be relieved. By this time the Chinese advanced had stalled, thus allowing the UN forces to re-group and prevent Seoul being threatened.
In recognition of their heroic actions at Kapyong, which saw some of the most ferocious hand to hand fighting of the entire Korean War, both the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, together with 'A' Company of the United States 72nd Heavy Tank Battalion, were awarded the US Distinguished Unit Citation
The streamer of the citation, bearing the honour 'Kapyong', is carried on the Regimental Colours of both battalions.
Battle of Long Tan, 18th August 1966
A mortar and recoilless rifle attack on the Task Force area opened Operation Smithfield, on the night of 16–17 August 1966. B Company, of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was initially dispatched to clear the area to the east of the Task Force base. D Company took over from B Company on 18 August 1966. D Company made contact with the enemy force of regimental size and was soon under attack from three sides. The battle was fought into the night under a blanket of mist and heavy monsoonal rain, but D Company held its ground with heroism and grim determination. The remainder of the Battalion deployed to aid the beleaguered Company. With the help of armoured personnel carriers of 3 Troop, 1 APC Squadron hit the flank of a battalion size force which was forming up to assault the rear of D Company, inflicted many casualties and forced the enemy from the battlefield. A Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to D Company by the then President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. The 18 August is now commemorated each year as Long Tan Day, in memory of the eighteen soldiers who gave their lives in battle.
Presidential Unit Citation awarded to 'D' Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
The streamer of the citation, bearing the honour 'Long Tan', is carried on the Regimental Colour of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Royal Australian Regiment and Royal New Zealand Artillery, Vietnam, 1965–66
Between May 1965 and May 1966, the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 161 Battery, 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery served as part of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam. During that time, the Brigade was constantly involved in heavy fighting, as it was invariably one of the leading units in the front line. For its service throughout this period, the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and 161 Battery, RNZA were awarded the United States Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded to 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
The streamer of the commendation, bearing the honour 'Vietnam 1965–66', is carried on the Regimental Colour of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, 1962–69
For the service it provided during the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1969, the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam was awarded the United States Meritorious Unit Commendation. The unit also received a red streamer bearing the honour 'Vietnam 1962–69'.
Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam
No 2 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
For its service in Vietnam between April 1967 and May 1971, No 2 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force was awarded the United States Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with attached Valor device.
Royal Australian Navy in Vietnam
For their service during the Vietnam War, both HMAS Perth and HMAS Hobart of the Royal Australian Navy were awarded commendations. The Perth was awarded both the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Navy Unit Commendation, while the Hobart received the Navy Unit Commendation.
The RAN's Clearence Diving Team 3 also received the Meritorious Unit Commendation, for its work clearing the harbours of Vung Tau, Cam Ranh Bay, Qui Nhon, and Nha Trang between 19th February and 30th June, 1967
Joint Special Operations Task Force SOUTH, Afghanistan 2001–02
Between October 2001 and April 2002, as part of the Joint Special Operations Task Force SOUTH in Afghanistan, Joint Task Force 2 of the Canadian Forces Land Force Command was awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation.
Categories: Awards and decorations of the U.S. military