Einar H . Ingman , Jr . Einar Harold Ingman , Jr . ( born October 6 , 1929 ) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War . Military service . Ingman was born on October 6 , 1929 , in Milwaukee , Wisconsin , and grew up on a farm . He joined the Army from Kewaskum , Wisconsin in November 1948 , hoping to work with heavy machinery , but instead served as an infantryman . By February 26 , 1951 , he was a corporal serving with Company E , 17th Infantry Regiment , 7th Infantry Division , in Korea . On that day , near the town of Malta - ri , he was among two squad s of men tasked with assaulting a fortified ridge - top position . When both squad leaders were wounded , Ingman combined the squads and took command . After making a radio call for artillery and tank support , he led his soldiers against the position , encouraging them and directing their fire . He single - handedly attacked a machine gun which was firing on his group , tossing a hand grenade into the emplacement and killing the crew with his rifle . While approaching a second machine gun , he was knocked to the ground and lost part of his left ear when a grenade exploded near his head . As he got to his feet , he was shot in the face by a Chinese soldier ; the bullet entered his upper lip and exited behind his ear . He continued his attack on the machine gun , firing his rifle and killing the remaining crew with his bayonet , until falling unconscious . His men went on to capture their objective and force the opposing troops into a disorganized retreat . Evacuated to Tokyo , Japan , for medical treatment , Ingman regained consciousness seven days later . His left eye was destroyed , his left ear was deaf , and he had suffered a brain injury which rendered him a complete amnesia c , unable to recall his own name . After having emergency brain surgery , his memories slowly returned , although he never regained any memory of being shot or of the events which immediately followed , and has had continued memory trouble for the rest of his life . Sent to Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek , Michigan , for further treatment , he spent the next two years undergoing twenty - three surgeries . In mid - 1951 , Ingman , recently promoted to sergeant , was flown from his hospital to Washington , D . C . , where President Harry Truman formally presented him with the Medal of Honor on July 5 . Upon arriving home in Tomahawk , the townspeople gave him a new house and boat during a celebration of his return . Post - war life . One year after receiving the medal , Ingman married ; he and his wife Mardelle went on to have seven children . The couple attended numerous government and military - related events through the years , including eleven presidential inaugurations and several trips to Korea . Ingman suffered a stroke in 2003 and now has difficulty communicating . He currently lives in Irma , Wisconsin , just south of Tomahawk . Medal of Honor citation . Ingman ' s official Medal of Honor citation reads : Sgt . Ingman , a member of Company E , distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy . The 2 leading squads of the assault platoon of his company , while attacking a strongly fortified ridge held by the enemy , were pinned down by withering fire and both squad leaders and several men were wounded . Cpl . Ingman assumed command , reorganized and combined the 2 squads , then moved from 1 position to another , designating fields of fire and giving advice and encouragement to the men . Locating an enemy machine gun position that was raking his men with devastating fire he charged it alone , threw a grenade into the position , and killed the remaining crew with rifle fire . Another enemy machine gun opened fire approximately 15 yards away and inflicted additional casualties to the group and stopped the attack . When Cpl . Ingman charged the second position he was hit by grenade fragments and a hail of fire which seriously wounded him about the face and neck and knocked him to the ground . With incredible courage and stamina , he arose instantly and , using only his rifle , killed the entire guncrew before falling unconscious from his wounds . As a result of the singular action by Cpl . Ingman the defense of the enemy was broken , his squad secured its objective , and more than 100 hostile troops abandoned their weapons and fled in disorganized retreat . Cpl . Ingman ' s indomitable courage , extraordinary heroism , and superb leadership reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the infantry and the U . S . Army .