Medal of Honor bestowed on Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton
date: label: Date
content: 1952
name: label: Issued by
content: United States Congress, American, founded 1789
label: Received by
content: Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton, American, 1929 - 1951
label: Subject of
content: United States Army, American, founded 1775
notes: label: Caption
content: This Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton for his bravery during the Korean War. Sergeant Charlton served in C Company, 24th Infantry Regiment. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions on June 2, 1951, near Chipo-ri, Korea. After his wounded platoon leader was evacuated during an attack to capture Hill 543, Sergeant Charlton “rallied the men” and led them on three separate assaults. During the first assault he eliminated two enemy positions, killing six. Although seriously wounded in the next two assaults, Charlton conducted a fourth assault alone. He was wounded again by a grenade, but silenced the enemy guns before he died.
label: Description
content: The medal (.1a) consists of a gold five pointed star, each point tipped with trefoils, surrounded by a green laurel wreath and suspended from a gold bar inscribed [VALOR], surmounted by an eagle. In the center of the star is Minerva’s head surrounded by the words [UNITED STATES OF AMERICA]. On each ray of the star is a green oak leaf. On the recto, the bar is engraved with [THE CONGRESS TO] with [SGT/CORNELIUS H./CHARLTON/CO C. 24TH INF REGT/25TH INF DIV.USA] engraved on the star.
label: Description
content: The neck ribbon (.1b) is blue silk with two snaps on either end for the wearer to attach the ribbon around his neck. The center of the ribbon is covered in blue silk with 13 white stars.
label: Description
content: The service ribbon (.2) is a rectangular bar covered in blue silk with five white stars.
label: Description
content: The case (.3) has a clear plastic top with blue velvet and gold bordered insert.
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Korean War, 1950-1953
label: Topic
content: Military
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton Collection
label: Classification
content: Awards, Medals, and Insignia
label: Exhibition
content: Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053A
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ray R. and Patricia A.D. Charlton in memory of Cornelius H. Charlton
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2013.165.1.1ab-.3
objectType: label: Type
content: medals
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Medal: metal, brass, gold plating, and enamel;
label: Medium
content: Neck and service ribbons: silk;
label: Medium
content: Case: plastic, brass, and velvet
label: Dimensions
content: Medal: H x W x D: 2 1/4 × 1 1/2 × 1/16 in. (5.7 × 3.8 × 0.2 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Neck Ribbon: H x W: 1 1/4 × 22 in. (3.2 × 55.9 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Service Ribbon: H x W x D: 1 7/16 × 3/8 × 1/8 in. (3.7 × 1 × 0.3 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: Case: H x W x D: 6 5/8 × 3 5/16 × 1 1/16 in. (16.8 × 8.4 × 2.7 cm)