Travis E . Watkins Travis Earl Watkins ( September 5 , 1920 – September 3 , 1950 ) was a United States Army soldier and a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War . A veteran of World War II , Watkins was awarded the medal for his conspicuous leadership during the Second Battle of Naktong Bulge . Early life and career . Watkins was born in Waldo , Arkansas , on September 5 , 1920 . His family moved to East Texas when he was a young child and he attended school in the city of Troup . Enlisting in the U . S . Army in June 1939 , Watkins served in World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during the Guadalcanal Campaign . He returned to Texas after the war and in 1948 married Madie Sue Barnett . Korean War . In the Korean War , Watkins served as a master sergeant with Company H of the 9th Infantry Regiment , 2nd Infantry Division . Near Yongsan , Korea , on August 31 , 1950 , he was among a group of 30 soldiers who were cut off and surrounded by a numerically superior North Korean force . Watkins took command and directed the group ' s defense , exposing himself to hostile fire in order to lead and encourage his men . When ammunition became scarce , he crossed the defensive perimeter to collect weapons from the bodies of two North Korean soldiers whom he had killed . Encountering three hostile soldiers , he was wounded but managed to kill the three men and took their weapons and ammunition as well before returning to friendly lines . Later , six North Koreans gained a position which allowed them to throw grenades into the American defenses . Watkins rose from his foxhole and killed the six soldiers with his rifle . Hit by machine gun fire in the process , he was rendered paralyzed from the waist down . Despite his severe injuries , he continued to encourage his men and refused all food , preferring to save it for others . Realizing that the position was untenable , on September 3 he ordered the group to withdraw and leave him behind . He died of his wounds soon after . For these actions , he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor six months later , on February 16 , 1951 . Honors and legacy . Two days short of his thirtieth birthday upon his death , Watkins was buried at Gladewater Memorial Cemetery in Gladewater , Texas . Every year since 2008 , a memorial ceremony has been held at his grave on the Saturday closest to National Medal of Honor Day . The transport ship was named in his honor . Medal of Honor citation . Watkins ' official Medal of Honor citation reads : M / Sgt . Watkins distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy . When an overwhelming enemy force broke through and isolated 30 men of his unit , he took command , established a perimeter defense and directed action which repelled continuous , fanatical enemy assaults . With his group completely surrounded and cut off , he moved from foxhole to foxhole exposing himself to enemy fire , giving instructions and offering encouragement to his men . Later when the need for ammunition and grenades became critical he shot 2 enemy soldiers 50 yards outside the perimeter and went out alone for their ammunition and weapons . As he picked up their weapons he was attacked by 3 others and wounded . Returning their fire he killed all 3 and gathering up the weapons of the 5 enemy dead returned to his amazed comrades . During a later assault , 6 enemy soldiers gained a defiladed spot and began to throw grenades into the perimeter making it untenable . Realizing the desperate situation and disregarding his wound he rose from his foxhole to engage them with rifle fire . Although immediately hit by a burst from an enemy machine gun he continued to fire until he had killed the grenade throwers . With this threat eliminated he collapsed and despite being paralyzed from the waist down , encouraged his men to hold on . He refused all food , saving it for his comrades , and when it became apparent that help would not arrive in time to hold the position ordered his men to escape to friendly lines . Refusing evacuation as his hopeless condition would burden his comrades , he remained in his position and cheerfully wished them luck . Through his aggressive leadership and intrepid actions , this small force destroyed nearly 500 of the enemy before abandoning their position . M / Sgt . Watkins ' sustained personal bravery and noble self - sacrifice reflect the highest glory upon himself and is in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the U . S . Army .