28NOV1950: Serving as a rifleman with the First Marine Division in Korea, Pvt Hector Cafferata found himself facing the brunt of a Chinese attack at the Chosin Reservoir. Early in the fight, his entire fire team became casualties, leaving Cafferata to fend off the waves of enemy attackers on his own. Holding the line, Cafferata ran up and down the perimeter, under intense enemy fire lobbing grenades and firing his rifle into the attackers. Bounding across the hillside to distract enemy machine gunners, Cafferata killed at least 15 attackers and wounded many more, forcing the first wave to withdraw. At this point, reinforcements arrived at his position. Despite fighting without his boots or coat in the below zero temperatures, Cafferata used his entrenching tool to bat back enemy grenades as they entered his fighting position. Eventually, one landed a short distance away but near some wounded Marines. Without hesitation, Cafferata ran to the grenade, picked it up and threw it away, saving the lives of the men around him. The grenade detonated in the air and seriously wounded him in the arm and hand. Refusing evacuation, Cafferata continued to fight until he was struck by a snipers bullet and forced to receive medical attention. Pvt Hector Cafferata would survive the war and in 1952 was awarded the Medal of Honor for valiantly holding the line during this, the opening phase of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir.

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