Ronald E . Rosser Ronald Eugene Rosser ( born October 24 , 1929 ) is a former United States Army soldier who received the United States military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor , for his actions in the Korean War . Military service . Born on October 24 , 1929 , in Columbus , Ohio , Rosser was the second oldest of seventeen children . He joined the Army in 1946 at age 17 for a three - year term of service . After one of his brothers was killed in the early stages of the Korean War , he re - enlisted from Crooksville , Ohio , in 1951 as a way of getting revenge . Initially stationed in Japan , Rosser requested to be sent into combat and was then deployed to Korea with the heavy mortar company of the 38th Infantry Regiment , 2nd Infantry Division . On January 12 , 1952 , Rosser , by then a corporal , was acting as a forward observer with Company L ' s lead platoon during an assault on a heavily fortified hill near Ponggilli . When the unit came under heavy fire , Rosser went forward three times and attacked the hostile positions alone , each time returning to friendly lines to gather more ammunition before charging the hill again . Although wounded himself , he helped carry injured soldiers to safety once withdrawal became necessary . For these actions , Rosser was awarded the Medal of Honor . Rosser returned to the United States in May 1952 and was formally presented with the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman a month later , on June 27 , 1952 . In 1968 , another of Rosser ' s brothers was killed in action , this time in the Vietnam War . Rosser requested a combat assignment in Vietnam but was rejected and subsequently retired from the Army . Medal of Honor citation . Rosser ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : Cpl . Rosser , distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty . While assaulting heavily fortified enemy hill positions , Company L , 38th Infantry Regiment , was stopped by fierce automatic - weapons , small - arms , artillery , and mortar fire . Cpl . Rosser , a forward observer , was with the lead platoon of Company L when it came under fire from 2 directions . Cpl . Rosser turned his radio over to his assistant and , disregarding the enemy fire , charged the enemy positions armed with only carbine and a grenade . At the first bunker , he silenced its occupants with a burst from his weapon . Gaining the top of the hill , he killed 2 enemy soldiers , and then went down the trench , killing 5 more as he advanced . He then hurled his grenade into a bunker and shot 2 other soldiers as they emerged . Having exhausted his ammunition , he returned through the enemy fire to obtain more ammunition and grenades and charged the hill once more . Calling on others to follow him , he assaulted 2 more enemy bunkers . Although those who attempted to join him became casualties , Cpl . Rosser once again exhausted his ammunition , obtained a new supply , and returning to the hilltop a third time hurled grenades into the enemy positions . During this heroic action Cpl . Rosser single - handedly killed at least 13 of the enemy . After exhausting his ammunition he accompanied the withdrawing platoon , and though himself wounded , made several trips across open terrain still under enemy fire to help remove other men injured more seriously than himself . This outstanding soldier ' s courageous and selfless devotion to duty is worthy of emulation by all men . He has contributed magnificently to the high traditions of the military service . Civilian life . Rosser reached the rank of Master Sergeant before leaving the military and resided in West Palm Beach , Florida , for thirty years . He now lives in Roseville , Ohio . He is the father of Pamela [ nee Rosser ] Lovell . Rosser currently serves on the advisory board of the Motts Military Museum in Groveport , Ohio .