Robert M . McGovern Robert Milton McGovern ( 1928 – January 30 , 1951 ) was an officer in the United States Army during the Korean War . He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 30 , 1951 . Biography . McGovern was a Washington D . C . native and a 1946 graduate of St . John ' s College High School in the District . He joined the Army later that same year . He was hit and wounded as he and his platoon from the 5th Cavalry Regiment came under withering machine gun fire , But he continued up Hill 312 , encouraging his men to meet and defeat the Chinese defense . His Medal of Honor recommendation was prepared for him at his men ' s insistence . His brother , Second Lieutenant Francis Jerome McGovern was also killed in action , eleven days later . When his Medal of Honor was announced in January 1952 , Robert ' s father , J . Halsey McGovern of Washington , created a stir when he refused to accept the award . He also refused to accept the Silver Star posthumously awarded to his second son , Jerome , a member of the 187th Airborne Regiment who was killed in action on February 10 , 1951 . The senior McGovern ' s refusal was based on his belief that medals were superfluous . He felt that they did not do justice to all of the heroes of the war in Korea and , as he told reporters , he did not feel that Truman " was fit to confer medals on anyone ' s sons . " Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : First Lieutenant , U . S . Army , Company A , 5th Cavalry Regiment , 1st Cavalry Division Place and date : Near Kamyangjan - ni ( a small hamlet east of Suwon ) , Korea , January 30 , 1951 Entered service at : Washington , D . C . Birth : Washington , D . C . G . O . No . : 2 , January 8 , 1952 . Citation : 1st Lt . McGovern , a member of Company A , distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations . As 1st Lt . McGovern led his platoon up a slope to engage hostile troops entrenched in bunker - type pillboxes with connecting trenches , the unit came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire from the crest of the hill , approximately 75 yards distant . Despite a wound sustained in this initial burst of withering fire , 1st Lt . McGovern , assured the men of his ability to continue on and urged them forward . Forging up the rocky incline , he fearlessly led the platoon to within several yards of its objective when the ruthless foe threw and rolled a vicious barrage of hand grenades on the group and halted the advance . Enemy fire increased in volume and intensity and 1st Lt . McGovern realizing that casualties were rapidly increasing and the morale of his men badly shaken , hurled back several grenades before they exploded . Then , disregarding his painful wound and weakened condition he charged a machine gun emplacement which was raking his position with flanking fire . When he was within 10 yards of the position a burst of fire ripped the carbine from his hands , but , undaunted , he continued his lone - man assault and , firing his pistol and throwing grenade s , killed 7 hostile soldiers before falling mortally wounded in front of the gun he had silenced . 1st Lt . McGovern ' s incredible display of valor imbued his men with indomitable resolution to avenge his death . Fixing bayonet s and throwing grenades , they charged with such ferocity that hostile positions were overrun and the enemy routed from the hill . The inspirational leadership , unflinching courage , and intrepid actions of 1st Lt . McGovern reflected utmost glory on himself and the honored tradition of the military services . Legacy . The U . S . Army named a camp after 1st Lt . McGovern in the Republic of Korea near Ungdam - ni in 1960 . It later named another camp after him , Camp McGovern , near the Brcko district , Bosnia .