Richard Thomas Shea Richard Thomas Shea , Jr . ( January 3 , 1927 – July 8 , 1953 ) was a soldier in the United States Army in the Korean War . He was listed as missing in action on July 8 , 1953 , and was later declared killed in action . Lt . Shea received the Medal of Honor posthumously . In 1987 , was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame . Early life . A native of Norfolk County , Virginia , Shea graduated from Churchland High School . He first studied in uniform at Virginia Polytechnic Institute at the height of World War II , but left early to join the US Army in 1944 . He served in the US Constabulary in post - war Europe , rising to the rank of staff Sergeant . He was entered West Point in 1948 . Track star at West Point . Shea was an All - American in track and was said to have been the greatest track star to attend West Point . He ran his first competitive race at VPI . One of the West Point Black Knights ' most celebrated distance runners , Dick Shea captured Heptagonal and IC4A individual cross country titles in three successive years ( 1949 – 51 ) , helping Army to three straight team " Heps " titles during that time . The top performer on Army ' s dominant cross country team , Shea led the Black Knights to a 19 - 2 record during his West Point career , a mark that included three straight " shutouts " of arch - rival Navy . He set seven Academy records in indoor and outdoor track and field and established a meet record in the two - mile run at the prestigious Penn Relays in 1951 . Shea repeated as the two - mile champ at both the Penn Relays and Heptagonal Championships in 1951 and 1952 . His standards in the indoor mile run ( 4 : 10 ) and two - mile run ( 9 : 05 . 8 ) remained on Army ' s record books for more than a decade . Since 1952 , only eight Army runners have achieved a better time in the mile , either indoors or outdoors . Today , Army ' s outdoor track and field complex bears his name . Turning down the opportunity to attend the Olympic Games , after graduating in 1952 , he joined his classmates in the Korean War . Medal of Honor recipient . Richard Shea received the Medal of Honor for actions on 7 and 8 July 1953 as an Army first lieutenant and acting company commander at Pork Chop Hill , Sokkogae , Korea during the Korean War . Fighting outnumbered , he voluntarily proceeded to the area most threatened , organizing and leading a counterattack . In the ensuing bitter fighting , he killed two of the enemy with his trench knife . In over 18 hours of heavy fighting , he moved among the defenders of Pork Chop Hill organizing a successful defense . Leading a counterattack , he killed three enemy soldiers single - handedly . Wounded he refused evacuation . He was last seen alive fighting hand - to - hand while leading another desperate counterattack . He left behind both a wife and an unborn son . His Medal of Honor was presented to his widow at the parade grounds of Fort Myer , Virginia by Secretary of the Army Robert T . Stevens on May 16 , 1955 . He is buried at Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth , Virginia . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : First Lieutenant , U . S . Army , Company A 17th Infantry Regiment , 7th Infantry Division Place and date : Near Sokkogae , Korea , 6 to 8 July 1953 . Entered service at : Portsmouth , Va . Born : January 3 , 1927 , Portsmouth , Va . G . O . No . : 38 , June 8 , 1955 . Citation : 1st Lt . Shea , executive officer , Company A , distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy . On the night of 6 July , he was supervising the reinforcement of defensive positions when the enemy attacked with great numerical superiority . Voluntarily proceeding to the area most threatened , he organized and led a counterattack and , in the bitter fighting which ensued , closed with and killed 2 hostile soldiers with his trench knife . Calmly moving among the men , checking positions , steadying and urging the troops to hold firm , he fought side by side with them throughout the night . Despite heavy losses , the hostile force pressed the assault with determination , and at dawn made an all - out attempt to overrun friendly elements . Charging forward to meet the challenge , 1st Lt . Shea and his gallant men drove back the hostile troops . Elements of Company G joined the defense on the afternoon of 7 July , having lost key personnel through casualties . Immediately integrating these troops into his unit , 1st Lt . Shea rallied a group of 20 men and again charged the enemy . Although wounded in this action , he refused evacuation and continued to lead the counterattack . When the assaulting element was pinned down by heavy machine gun fire , he personally rushed the emplacement and , firing his carbine and lobbing grenade s with deadly accuracy , neutralized the weapon and killed 3 of the enemy . With forceful leadership and by his heroic example , 1st Lt . Shea coordinated and directed a holding action throughout the night and the following morning . On 8 July , the enemy attacked again . Despite additional wounds , he launched a determined counterattack and was last seen in close hand - to - hand combat with the enemy . 1st Lt . Shea ' s inspirational leadership and unflinching courage set an illustrious example of valor to the men of his regiment , reflecting lasting glory upon himself and upholding the noble traditions of the military service .