Stanley T . Adams Stanley " Stan " Taylor Adams ( May 9 , 1922 – April 19 , 1999 ) was a United States Army officer who received the U . S . military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor , for his actions in the Korean War . A native of Kansas , Adams fought in World War II as an enlisted soldier . He was sent to Korea as a sergeant soon after the outbreak of war there , and was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading a bayonet charge against a numerically superior force in early 1951 . Commissioned as an officer shortly after receiving the medal , Adams continued to serve into the Vietnam War , eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel . Early life and World War II . Born in De Soto , Kansas , on May 9 , 1922 , Adams joined the Army from nearby Olathe in 1942 . During World War II , he was wounded in action while fighting in North Africa and Italy . Korean War . After World War II , he served in Japan as part of the Allied occupation force . In July 1950 , shortly after the onset of the Korean War , he was sent to South Korea as a sergeant first class with Company A of the 1st Battalion , 19th Infantry Regiment , 24th Division . In late January 1951 , the Eighth Army , of which Adams ' unit was a part , launched a counteroffensive against Chinese troops which had begun pushing the United Nations forces southward months earlier . Company A established a position south of Seoul near Sesim - ni on February 3 , and Adams ' platoon set up an outpost on a ridge forward of the rest of the company . At about 11 : 00 that night , enemy troops assaulted and pushed back the companies to either side of Company A , leaving the unit surrounded on three sides . Two hours later , in the early morning of February 4 , Adams ' forward platoon was attacked by about 250 soldiers . After 45 minutes under intense machine gun and mortar fire , the platoon withdrew to the main company position . Seeing that the opposing force could only be routed by close quarters fighting , Adams led 13 men from his platoon in a bayonet charge against approximately 150 enemy soldiers . He continued to fight in hand - to - hand combat for nearly an hour , despite being shot in the leg and knocked off his feet four times by grenade s , until the hostile force began to retreat . When orders came for his battalion to withdraw , he stayed behind to provide covering fire . Adams was subsequently promoted to master sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle . The medal was formally presented to him by President Harry S . Truman in a July 5 , 1951 , ceremony at the White House . Later years . Shortly after receiving the Medal of Honor , Adams was commissioned as a second lieutenant . He retired in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel . With his first wife Wava Adams he had a son , Gary , after their divorce he married Jean Adams and had a daughter , Joy . As a civilian , Adams lived in Alaska and worked as an administrator for the Internal Revenue Service there . He later moved to Bend , Oregon , and , after being diagnosed with Alzheimer ' s disease , lived at the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles . He died in the veterans home on April 19 , 1999 , aged 76 , and was buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Clackamas County . Adams ' wife , Jean , donated his Medal of Honor to the Oregon Veterans Home , where it is displayed in the entryway . Upon her death in 2008 , she left a substantial contribution of funds and memorabilia to the home . A multipurpose building , to be named the Stan & Jean Adams Veterans ' Community Center , is currently under construction at the facility . Medal of Honor citation . Adams ' official citation reads : M / Sgt . Adams , Company A , distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy . At approximately 0100 hours , M / Sgt . Adams ' platoon , holding an outpost some 200 yards ahead of his company , came under a determined attack by an estimated 250 enemy troops . Intense small - arms , machine gun , and mortar fire from 3 sides pressed the platoon back against the main line of resistance . Observing approximately 150 hostile troops silhouetted against the skyline advancing against his platoon , M / Sgt . Adams leaped to his feet , urged his men to fix bayonets , and he , with 13 members of his platoon , charged this hostile force with indomitable courage . Within 50 yards of the enemy M / Sgt . Adams was knocked to the ground when pierced in the leg by an enemy bullet . He jumped to his feet and , ignoring his wound , continued on to close with the enemy when he was knocked down 4 times from the concussion of grenades which had bounced off his body . Shouting orders he charged the enemy positions and engaged them in hand - to - hand combat where man after man fell before his terrific onslaught with bayonet and rifle butt . After nearly an hour of vicious action M / Sgt . Adams and his comrades routed the fanatical foe , killing over 50 and forcing the remainder to withdraw . Upon receiving orders that his battalion was moving back he provided cover fire while his men withdrew . M / Sgt . Adams ' superb leadership , incredible courage , and consummate devotion to duty so inspired his comrades that the enemy attack was completely thwarted , saving his battalion from possible disaster . His sustained personal bravery and indomitable fighting spirit against overwhelming odds reflect the utmost glory upon himself and uphold the finest traditions of the infantry and the military service .