Sherrod E. Skinner Jr.

Sherrod Emerson Skinner Jr. (October 29, 1929 – October 26, 1952) was a

Sherrod Emerson Skinner Jr. was born October 29, 1929, in Hartford, Connecticut. He attended grammar school in

In March 1952, after completing the Marine Officers

His parents were notified by General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps, that their son was the 25th Marine to be awarded the nation's highest decoration since the start of the Korean War. The medal was presented to his parents at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. by then-Vice President Richard Nixon on September 9, 1953.^[1]

Second Lieutenant Skinner's remains were returned to Arlington National Cemetery for burial in January 1953.

Decorations

In addition to the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart, 2dLt Skinner was entitled to the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with one bronze star and the United Nations Service Medal.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

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 as an Artillery Forward Observer of Battery F, Second Battalion, Eleventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on the night of October 26, 1952. When his observation post in an extremely critical and vital sector of the main line of resistance was subjected to a sudden and fanatical attack by hostile forces, supported by a devastating barrage of

grenades. Although painfully wounded on each occasion, he steadfastly refused medical aid until the rest of the men received treatment. As the ground attack reached its climax, he gallantly directed the final defense until the meager supply of ammunition was exhausted and the position overrun. During the three hours that the outpost was occupied by the enemy, several grenades were thrown into the bunker which served as protection for Second Lieutenant Skinner and his remaining comrades. Realizing that there was no chance for other than passive resistance, he directed his men to feign death even though the hostile troops entered the bunker and searched their persons. Later, when an enemy grenade was thrown between him and two other survivors, he immediately threw himself on the deadly missile in an effort to protect the others, absorbing the full force of the explosion and sacrificing his life for his comrades. By his indomitable fighting spirit, superb leadership and great personal valor in the face of tremendous odds, Second Lieutenant Skinner served to inspire his fellow Marines in their heroic stand against the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.^[2]

/S/ Dwight D. Eisenhower

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients

References

Inline

General

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

• "Second Lieutenant Sherrod Emerson Skinner Jr., USMCR, Medal of Honor recipient". Who's who in Marine Corps history. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
• "Sherrod Emerson Skinner Jr., Medal of Honor recipient". Arlington National Cemetery Biography. Arlington National Cemetery profile. October 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
• "Sherrod Emerson Skinner Jr., Medal of Honor recipient". Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. July 16, 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2007-11-29.