Ola L. Mize
Ola Lee Mize | |
|---|---|
 Medal of Honor recipient Ola Mize | |
| Born | August 28, 1931 Albertville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | March 12, 2014 (aged 82) Gadsden, Alabama, U.S. |
| Place of burial | Crestwood Memorial Cemetery, East Gadsden, Alabama |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1950–1981 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Korean War • Attack on Outpost Harry Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Legion of Merit (2) Silver Star Bronze Star (5) Purple Heart |
Ola Lee Mize (August 28, 1931 – March 12, 2014) was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Korean War.
Biography
Mize was born in Albertville, Alabama, the son of a sharecropper.[1] He left school after 9th grade to help support his family. After several years of working for low pay, he attempted to enlist in the Army, but was rejected for being too light, at 120 pounds (54 kg).[2] He tried repeatedly to enlist and was eventually accepted, joining the Army in 1950 from Gadsden, Alabama.[2][3]
Assigned to the
Mize later joined the
Mize retired from the Army in 1981 as a colonel.[2][4]
Mize died of cancer on March 12, 2014, at Gadsden, Alabama, aged 82.[5]
Decorations
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Combat Infantryman Badge with one star |
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Master Parachutist Badge |
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Scuba Badge
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Special Forces Tab |
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Ranger Tab
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Medal of Honor |
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Silver Star |
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Oak Leaf Cluster
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"V" Device
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Purple Heart |
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Oak Leaf Cluster
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Air Medal |
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Army Good Conduct Medal |
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Oak Leaf Cluster
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Korean Service Medal with two service stars |
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
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Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars |
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Armed Forces Reserve Medal |
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Vietnam Gallantry Cross
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United Nations Korea Medal
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Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant (then Sgt.), U.S. Army, Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Surang-ni, Korea, 10 to 11 June 1953.
Entered service at: Gadsden, Ala. Born: 28 August 1931, Marshall County, Ala.
G.O. No.: 70, 24 September 1954.
Citation:
M/Sgt. Mize, a member of Company K, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Company K was committed to the defense of "Outpost Harry", a strategically valuable position, when the enemy launched a heavy attack. Learning that a comrade on a friendly listening post had been wounded he moved through the intense barrage, accompanied by a medical aid man, and rescued the wounded soldier. On returning to the main position he established an effective defense system and inflicted heavy casualties against attacks from determined enemy assault forces which had penetrated into trenches within the outpost area. During his fearless actions he was blown down by artillery and grenade blasts 3 times but each time he dauntlessly returned to his position, tenaciously fighting and successfully repelling hostile attacks. When enemy onslaughts ceased he took his few men and moved from bunker to bunker, firing through apertures and throwing grenades at the foe, neutralizing their positions. When an enemy soldier stepped out behind a comrade, prepared to fire, M/Sgt. Mize killed him, saving the life of his fellow soldier. After rejoining the platoon, moving from man to man, distributing ammunition, and shouting words of encouragement he observed a friendly machine gun position overrun. He immediately fought his way to the position, killing 10 of the enemy and dispersing the remainder. Fighting back to the command post, and finding several friendly wounded there, he took a position to protect them. Later, securing a radio, he directed friendly artillery fire upon the attacking enemy's routes of approach. At dawn he helped regroup for a counterattack which successfully drove the enemy from the outpost. M/Sgt. Mize's valorous conduct and unflinching courage reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.[3]
Legacy
A section of Steel Station Road in Gadsden, Alabama, is named Col. Ola Lee Mize Medal of Honor Highway in his honor.
On May 14, 2015, the Special Forces Underwater Operations School in Key West, Florida, celebrated its 50th anniversary by naming its headquarters building in his honor.[6]
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ "Sergeant Ola L. Mize". Alabama Department of Archives and History. June 4, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Medal of Honor: Ola L. Mize". The Daily Nightly. August 30, 2007. Archived from the original on May 5, 2010. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- ^ a b c "Medal of Honor recipients - Korean War". United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- ^ Brewer, David (July 17, 2009). "Guntersville Museum holding reception Sunday to honor veterans". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
- ^ Emily Langer (March 13, 2014). "Ola L. Mize, who received the Medal of Honor for valor during the Korean War, dies at 82". The Washington Post. (subscription required)
- ^ Jimmy Smothers (June 9, 2015). "Special Forces headquarters named for Mize". The Gadsden Times.