Benjamin F . Wilson Benjamin F . Wilson ( 1922 – 1988 ) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War . He received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 5 , 1951 . Biography . Born at Vashon , Washington in 1922 , he enlisted in the Army in the summer of 1940 and was stationed at Schofield Barracks , Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor . He went to OCS in 1942 and was commissioned in the infantry , but when the war was over , he resigned his commission and went home . His departure was only temporary . The Army suited him infinitely better than Washington ’ s lumber mills and he was back in uniform nine months later . Because the Army was thinning its officer ranks and had no room for an experienced lieutenant , he enlisted as a private . He rose quickly through the ranks to become I Company ’ s First Sergeant by the summer of 1951 . First Sergeant Wilson ' s company was ordered to take the largest hill ( later dubbed “ Hell Hill ” ) overlooking the Hwachon Reservoir on June 4 , 1951 . Wounded in action , First Sergeant Ben Wilson , was being carried down the hill on a stretcher as the battle neared its climax . When his stretcher - bearers set him down to rest , Wilson , in obvious pain , arose from the stretcher and trudged back up the hill without a word . No one could tell him he did not belong there . Everyone understood that he would rather stay with his company than suffer the indignity of being carried to an aid station . On June 6 , just one day after the exploit that earned him the Medal of Honor , First Sergeant Ben Wilson killed 33 more Chinese soldiers with his rifle , bayonet , and hand grenades in another one - man assault . In the process , he reopened the wounds he suffered the day before and was finally evacuated to a hospital . He was again recommended for the Medal of Honor , but Army policy prohibited any man from being awarded more than one . Wilson received the Distinguished Service Cross instead and was commissioned when he returned to the States . He retired from the Army as a major in 1960 and died in Hawaii in 1988 . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : First Lieutenant ( then M / Sgt . ) , U . S . Army Company I , 31st Infantry Regiment , 7th Infantry Division Place and date : Near Hwach ' on - Myon , Korea , June 5 , 1951 Entered service at : Vashon , Wash . Birth : Vashon , Washington G . O . No . : 69 , September 23 , 1954 Citation : 1st Lt . Wilson distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy . Company I was committed to attack and secure commanding terrain stubbornly defended by a numerically superior hostile force emplaced in well - fortified positions . When the spearheading element was pinned down by withering hostile fire , he dashed forward and , firing his rifle and throwing grenade s , neutralized the position denying the advance and killed 4 enemy soldiers manning submachineguns . After the assault platoon moved up , occupied the position , and a base of fire was established , he led a bayonet attack which reduced the objective and killed approximately 27 hostile soldiers . While friendly forces were consolidating the newly won gain , the enemy launched a counterattack and 1st Lt . Wilson , realizing the imminent threat of being overrun , made a determined lone - man charge , killing 7 and wounding 2 of the enemy , and routing the remainder in disorder . After the position was organized , he led an assault carrying to approximately 15 yards of the final objective , when enemy fire halted the advance . He ordered the platoon to withdraw and , although painfully wounded in this action , remained to provide covering fire . During an ensuing counterattack , the commanding officer and 1st Platoon leader became casualties . Unhesitatingly , 1st Lt . Wilson charged the enemy ranks and fought valiantly , killing 3 enemy soldiers with his rifle before it was wrested from his hands , and annihilating 4 others with his entrenching tool . His courageous delaying action enabled his comrades to reorganize and effect an orderly withdrawal . While directing evacuation of the wounded , he suffered a second wound , but elected to remain on the position until assured that all of the men had reached safety . 1st Lt . Wilson ' s sustained valor and intrepid actions reflect utmost credit upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service . References . Picture of Benjamin Wilson on Pinterest . com