Lewis G. Watkins

Infobox Military Person
name= Lewis G. Watkins
born= 1925
died= October 7, death year and age|1952|1925
placeofbirth= Seneca, South Carolina
placeofdeath= KIA in Korea
placeofburial=


caption= Lewis G. Watkins, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch= United States Marine Corps
serviceyears= 1950-1952
rank= Staff Sergeant
commands=
unit= 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines
battles= Korean War
awards= Medal of Honor Purple Heart
laterwork= Greenville Police DepartmentStaff Sergeant Lewis G. Watkins (June 6, 1925 – October 7, 1952) was a United States Marine who heroically sacrificed his life to save the lives of fellow Marines under his command and to contribute to the success of his unit's mission during the Korean War. For his actions on October 7, 1952, Watkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Lewis Watkins was born on 6 June, 1925 in Seneca, South Carolina. He graduated from Greenville High School, South Carolina in 1949. He was a member of the Greenville Police Department when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 12 September, 1950. After training at Parris Island, South Carolina. He served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton, California before being deployed to Korea.

On 7 October, 1952, Sergeant Watkins' platoon was assigned to retake an outpost from the enemy. Although wounded in the fight, he placed automatic fire on the enemy machine gun position holding up the assault. When an enemy grenade landed among his men, he shoved them aside, picked up the grenade, and attempted to throw it at the enemy. The grenade exploded in his hand and wounded him mortally.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Watkins of Seneca, South Carolina, received notification that their son had been awarded the Nation's highest decoration in a letter from General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, Watkins decorations include: the Purple Heart; Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars; and the United Nations Service Medal.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to
STAFF SERGEANT LEWIS G. WATKINS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a guide of a rifle platoon of Company I, in action against enemy aggressor forces during the hours of darkness on the morning of October 7, 1952. With his platoon assigned the mission of retaking an outpost which had been overrun by the enemy earlier in the night, S/Sgt. Watkins skillfully led his unit in the assault up the designated hill. Although painfully wounded when a well-entrenched hostile force at the crest of the hill engaged the platoon with intense small-arms and grenade fire, he gallantly continued to lead his men. Obtaining an automatic rifle from one of the wounded men, he assisted in pinning down an enemy machine gun holding up the assault. When an enemy grenade landed among Staff Sergeant Watkins and several other Marines while they were moving forward through a trench on the hill crest, he immediately pushed his companions aside, placed himself in a position to shield them and picked up the deadly missile in an attempt to throw it outside the trench. Mortally wounded when the grenade exploded in his hand, Staff Sergeant Watkins, by his great personal valor in the face of almost certain death, saved the lives of several of his comrades and contributed materially to the success of the mission. His extraordinary heroism, inspiring leadership, and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web|accessdate=2007-12-28
url=http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/hd/Whos_Who/Watkins_LG.htm
title=Staff Sergeant Lewis G. Watkins, USMC
work=Who's Who in Marine Corps History
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
*cite web|accessdate=
url=http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/0/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa6005500a3?OpenDocument
title=Medal of Honor — SSgt Lewis G. Watkins (Medal of Honor citation)
work=Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor
publisher=History Division, United States Marine Corps
archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070220212421/http://www.usmc.mil/moh.nsf/000003c919889c0385255f980058f5b6/0000033ba9f47a7385255fa6005500a3?OpenDocument
archivedate=2007-02-20

External links

*cite web|accessdate=2007-12-28
url=http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess115_2003-2004/bills/5297.htm
title=South Carolina Legislature resolution honoring SSgt Watkins
date=May 19, 2004

*cite web|accessdate=2007-12-28
url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=110-h20070514-17
title=HR 1335 — introduced in 2007 and enacted as Public Law No: 110-59. — designates a United States Postal Service facility in Seneca, South Carolina, as the "S/Sgt Lewis G. Watkins Post Office Building"
work=Congressional Record
date=May 14, 2007

Persondata
NAME= Watkins, Lewis G.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH= June 6, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH= Seneca, South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH= October 7, 1952
PLACE OF DEATH= KIA in Korea