Jack W . Kelso Jack William Kelso ( January 23 , 1934 – October 2 , 1952 ) was a United States Marine who posthumous ly received the Medal of Honor for heroism on the night of October 2 , 1952 , when he was killed while covering the escape of fellow Marines from a besieged bunker . He was the 31st Marine to receive the United States ' s highest military decoration for heroism during the Korean War . Biography . Jack William Kelso was born on January 23 , 1934 in Madera , California , and attended grade and high school in Caruthers , California . He worked on his father ’ s farm until he enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 15 , 1951 at age 17 . Kelso completed his recruit training in San Diego , California , in July 1951 and that September was ordered from San Diego to Camp Pendleton , California . In January 1952 , he left for Hawaii , where he served until April 1952 , when he embarked for Korea with Company I , 3rd Battalion , 7th Marines , 1st Marine Division as a rifleman . For his actions on August 13 , 1952 – August 15 , 1952 , he earned the Silver Star Medal for gallantry . Kelso made some 20 trips through enemy mortar and artillery fire to carry ammunition from his company to another unit defending an important hill . Although the heat and enemy fire forced most of the men to be relieved after three trips , he continued to carry up ammunition and return with casualties until he collapsed and had to be evacuated . On the night of October 2 , 1952 , Kelso was serving at a vital outpost near Sokchon when a numerically superior enemy attack , under cover of small arms , grenade and mortar fire , made casualties of both his platoon commander and platoon sergeant . After exposing himself to a hail of enemy fire to try to reorganize the unit , he was driven to cover with four other Marines in a nearby bunker , where an enemy grenade landed among them . He picked it up , ran into the open and threw it back at the enemy , receiving painful wounds as the missile exploded on leaving his hand . He was again forced into the shelter by even more intense enemy fire , but refused to remain there . Moving out into the fire - swept area , he fired away at the enemy until he was mortally wounded , thereby covering the escape of the other Marines from the bunker . For his " conspicuous gallantry " in this final action , he was awarded the Medal of Honor . He was also awarded the Purple Heart Medal for the wounds . His body was returned to the United States for burial . His remains are buried in Washington Colony Cemetery , Fresno , California . In popular culture . One of the protagonists in the video game " L . A . Noire " was named after Kelso [ Jack Kelso ] and shares a background in the Marine Corps . Awards and decorations . PFC Kelso ' s awards include : Medal of Honor citation . The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE JACK W . KELSO UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman of Company I , Third Battalion , Seventh Marines , First Marine Division ( Reinforced ) , in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 2 October 1952 . When both the platoon commander and the platoon sergeant became casualties during the defense of a vital outpost against a numerically superior enemy force attacking at night under cover of intense mall - arms , grenade and mortar fire , Private Kelso bravely exposed himself to the hail of enemy fire in a determined effort to reorganize the unit and to repel the onrushing attackers . Forced to seek cover , along with four other Marines , in a near - by bunker which immediately came under attack , he unhesitatingly picked up an enemy grenade which landed in the shelter , rushed out into the open and hurled it back at the enemy . Although painfully wounded when the grenade exploded as it left his hand , and again forced to seek the protection of the bunker when the hostile fire became more intensified , Private Kelso refused to remain in his position of comparative safety and moved out into the fire - swept area to return the enemy fire , thereby permitting the pinned - down Marines in the bunker to escape . Mortally wounded while providing covering fire for his comrades , Private Kelso , by his valiant fighting spirit , aggressive determination and self - sacrificing efforts in behalf of others , served to inspire all who observed him . His heroic actions sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service . He gallantly gave his life for his country . / S / DWIGHT D . EISENHOWER