Charles R . Long Charles Richard Long ( December 10 , 1923 – February 12 , 1951 ) was a United States Army soldier who received the United States military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor , for his actions in the Korean War . A native of Independence , Missouri , Long joined the Army after high school and served in Europe during World War II . Recalled to active duty for the Korean War , he served as a sergeant and forward observer for a mortar platoon . He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his conduct during an assault by a numerically superior force on February 12 , 1951 , when he voluntarily remained at his forward post and continued to direct mortar fire until being overrun and killed . Early life . Long was born on December 10 , 1923 , in Kansas City , Missouri , the middle child of Lois and Fritz Long . He had an older brother , Robert , and a younger sister , Edith . He went by his middle name , but his immediate family referred to him as " Buddy " . Growing up in the Mount Washington area of Independence , Long delivered newspapers for The Kansas City Star , worked for the Fairmount Inter - City News , and sold soda pop at a bus station . His family was poor and took in boarders for extra money . After graduating from Kansas City ' s Northeast High School in 1941 , he joined the U . S . Army like his brother Robert . Military service . During World War II , Long served in Europe and participated in the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 – 1945 . He remained in the Army Reserve after the war until being recalled to active duty at the outbreak of hostilities in Korea . By February 12 , 1951 , he was serving in Korea as a sergeant with Company M of the 38th Infantry Regiment , 2nd Infantry Division . In the early morning hours of that day , on Hill 300 near Hoengseong , he was acting as a forward observer for the company ' s mortar platoon when they came under attack by a numerically superior force . Although ordered to withdraw , Long voluntarily stayed at his advance post , holding off the enemy with his carbine and hand grenade s while continuing to direct mortar fire via radio . His last radio message stated that he was out of ammunition and called for a 40 - round mortar strike near his position . He was surrounded and killed soon after . For these actions , he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor a year later , on February 1 , 1952 . The medal was presented to his family by President Harry S . Truman . Aged 27 at his death , Long was buried at Mount Washington Forever Cemetery in his hometown of Independence . Posthumous honors . Several military facilities have been named in Long ' s honor , including the U . S . Army ' s Camp Long near Wonju , South Korea , and the Charles R . Long Army Reserve Center in Independence . Also in Independence is the Truman Memorial Building , which holds a display in memory of Long . In July 2010 , a bridge on U . S . Route 24 in the Fairmount area of Independence , not far from Long ' s childhood home , was renamed the Sgt . Charles R . Long Memorial Bridge . A new Department of Defense Dependents Elementary School located on Camp Humphreys , South Korea will be named Charles R . Long Elementary School when it is completed in 2013 . Medal of Honor citation . Long ' s official citation reads : Sgt . Long , a member of Company M , distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations . When Company M , in a defensive perimeter on Hill 300 , was viciously attacked by a numerically superior hostile force at approximately 0300 hours and ordered to withdraw , Sgt . Long , a forward observer for the mortar platoon , voluntarily remained at his post to provide cover by directing mortar fire on the enemy . Maintaining radio contact with his platoon , Sgt . Long coolly directed accurate mortar fire on the advancing foe . He continued firing his carbine and throwing handgrenades until his position was surrounded and he was mortally wounded . Sgt . Long ' s inspirational , valorous action halted the onslaught , exacted a heavy toll of enemy casualties , and enabled his company to withdraw , reorganize , counterattack , and regain the hill strongpoint . His unflinching courage and noble self - sacrifice reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service .