Henry Svehla Henry Svehla ( circa 1932 – June 12 , 1952 ) was a United States Army soldier who on May 2 , 2011 was posthumously awarded the United States military ' s highest decoration , the Medal of Honor , for his actions in the Korean War . Previously he had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross . Svehla joined the Army in 1951 . By June 12 , 1952 , Svehla was a private first class serving in Korea as a rifleman with Company F , 32nd Infantry Regiment , 7th Infantry Division . On that day , his platoon came under heavy fire and he charged forward to attack the enemy . When a grenade landed amidst his group , he smothered the blast with his body in order to protect those around him . He was killed in the explosion . His remains have never been recovered . For these actions , Svehla was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama on May 2 during a White House ceremony . His sisters Dorothy Mathews and Sylvia Svehla accepted the medal on his behalf . Also receiving a Medal of Honor at the ceremony was the family of Private First Class Anthony T . Kahoʻohanohano , a fellow 7th Infantry Division soldier killed in the Korean War . A White House press release describes Svehla ' s actions : Coming under heavy fire and with his platoon ' s attack beginning to falter , Private First Class Svehla leapt to his feet and charged the enemy positions , firing his weapon and throwing grenades as he advanced . Disregarding his own safety , he destroyed enemy positions and inflicted heavy casualties . When an enemy grenade landed among a group of his comrades , without hesitation and undoubtedly aware of the extreme danger , he threw himself on the grenade . Medal of Honor Citation . The President of the United States of America , in the name of Congress , takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to ( Posthumously ) to Private First Class Henry Svehla ( ASN : RA - 21748254 ) , United States Army , for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company F , 2d Battalion , 32d Infantry Regiment , 7th Infantry Division . Private First Class Svehla distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Pyongony , Korea , on 12 June 1952 . That afternoon , while Private First Class Svehla and his platoon were patrolling a strategic hill to determine enemy strength and positions , they were subjected to intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire at the top of the hill . Coming under heavy fire , the platoon ' s attack began to falter . Realizing the success of mission and the safety of the remaining troops were in peril , Private First Class Svehla leapt to his feet and charged the enemy positions , firing his weapon and throwing grenades as he advanced . In the face of this courage and determination , the platoon rallied to attack with renewed vigor . Private First Class Svehla , utterly disregarding his own safety , destroyed enemy positions and inflicted heavy casualties , when suddenly , fragments from a mortar round exploding nearby seriously wounded him in the face . Despite his wounds , Private First Class Svehla refused medical treatment and continued to lead the attack . When an enemy grenade landed among a group of his comrades , Private First Class Svehla , without hesitation and undoubtedly aware of extreme danger , threw himself upon the grenade . During this action , Private First Class Svehla was mortally wounded . Private First Class Svehla ' s extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life , above and beyond the call of duty , are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself , his unit and the United States Army . Action Date : June 12 , 1952 Service : Army Rank : Private First Class Company : Company F Battalion : 2d Battalion Regiment : 32d Infantry Regiment Division : 7th Infantry Division