Richard Cowan ( soldier ) Richard Eller Cowan ( December 5 , 1922 – December 17 , 1944 ) was a soldier in the United States Army who posthumous ly received the United States military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor , for his actions during World War II . He was born in Lincoln , Nebraska and after growing up and going to college in Wichita , Kansas he enlisted in the Army . He was sent to Europe to fight in World War II and was killed in the Battle of the Bulge after killing approximately 100 German soldiers . It was for this action that he received the Medal of Honor , which was presented to his family by the President of the United States at a White House ceremony . Early life and education . Cowan was born December 5 , 1922 in Lincoln , Nebraska but grew up in Wichita . After attending school in Witchita he transferred from Friends University in Wichita , Kansas , his hometown , to the Oberlin College , in October 1942 . His father , grandfather , and uncles were all graduates of Oberlin College , and his greatest wish was to be the third Cowan generation at Oberlin . Military career . Cowan joined the Army from his hometown of Wichita , Kansas in September 1943 . At the time of his death , Cowan was a 22 - year - old private first class in M Company , 23rd Infantry , Second Infantry Division . On December 17 , 1944 , the second day of the Battle of the Bulge , the last great German effort to split the Allied front and reach the English Channel , he was a heavy machine gun ner attached to I Company near Krinkelter Wald , Belgium . The company was attacked by a superior force of Wehrmacht infantry and tanks . Cowan and his comrades repulsed the first six waves of attacking German infantry , but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but three of his section , leaving Dick to man his gun supported by only 15 or 20 riflemen . He stood his ground , holding off the Germans until the rest of his force could set up a new line behind him . Then , unaided , he moved his heavy weapon and ammunition to the second position . A King Tiger tank approached , but he held his fire until 80 or so supporting German infantry broke cover . His first burst of fire killed or wounded half of them . The tank fired its 88 mm cannon , rocking his position . He continued to man his gun , pouring a deadly fire into the German ranks . Barely missed by another shell from the tank and fire from three German machine guns and a rocket , he stood by his gun . Finally , after he had killed an estimated one hundred of the enemy , his position became untenable . Cowan lifted the heavy gun on his back and escaped into the village of Krinkelt . Out of ammunition and too exhausted to carry the gun , he received permission to destroy it . He then picked up a rifle and joined other infantry in defending the town . He was killed by enemy fire the next day on December 17 , 1944 and was buried in Wichita Park Cemetery , Wichita , Kansas . President Harry S . Truman gave Cowan ' s Medal of Honor to his parents in a ceremony on the White House lawn , marking their son ' s heroic exploits in the Ardennes campaign . Cowan is the only known Oberlin College recipient of the Medal of Honor . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Private First Class , U . S . Army , Company M , 23d Infantry , 2d Infantry Division . Place and date : Near Krinkelter Wald , Belgium , 17 December 1944 . Entered service at : Wichita , Kans . Birth : Lincoln , Nebr . G . O . No . : 48 , 23 June 1945 . Citation : He was a heavy machinegunner in a section attached to Company I in the vicinity of Krinkelter Wald , Belgium , 17 December 1944 , when that company was attacked by a numerically superior force of German infantry and tanks . The first 6 waves of hostile infantrymen were repulsed with heavy casualties , but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but 3 of his section , leaving Pvt . Cowan to man his gun , supported by only 15 to 20 riflemen of Company I . He maintained his position , holding off the Germans until the rest of the shattered force had set up a new line along a firebreak . Then , unaided , he moved his machinegun and ammunition to the second position . At the approach of a Royal Tiger tank , he held his fire until about 80 enemy infantrymen supporting the tank appeared at a distance of about 150 yards . His first burst killed or wounded about half of these infantrymen . His position was rocked by an 88mm . shell when the tank opened fire , but he continued to man his gun , pouring deadly fire into the Germans when they again advanced . He was barely missed by another shell . Fire from three machineguns and innumerable small arms struck all about him ; an enemy rocket shook him badly , but did not drive him from his gun . Infiltration by the enemy had by this time made the position untenable , and the order was given to withdraw . Pvt . Cowan was the last man to leave , voluntarily covering the withdrawal of his remaining comrades . His heroic actions were entirely responsible for allowing the remaining men to retire successfully from the scene of their last - ditch stand .