Ray E. Duke

Infobox Military Person
name= Ray E. Duke
born= birth date|1923|5|9
died= death date and age|1951|4|26|1923|5|9
placeofbirth= Whitwell, Tennessee
placeofdeath= Near Mugok, Korea
placeofburial=


caption= Medal of Honor recipient
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears= -1951
rank= Sergeant First Class
unit=Company C, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
battles= Korean War
awards= Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Ray E. Duke (May 9, 1923 – April 26, 1951) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 26, 1951.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Mugok, Korea, 26 April 1951

Entered service at: Whitwell (Marion County), Tenn. Born: 9 May 1923, Whitwell, Tenn.

G.O. No.: 20, 19 March 1954

Citation:

:Sfc. Duke, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Upon learning that several of his men were isolated and heavily engaged in an area yielded by his platoon when ordered to withdraw, he led a small force in a daring assault which recovered the position and the beleaguered men. Another enemy attack in strength resulted in numerous casualties but Sfc. Duke, although wounded by mortar fragments, calmly moved along his platoon line to coordinate fields of fire and to urge his men to hold firm in the bitter encounter. Wounded a second time he received first aid and returned to his position. When the enemy again attacked shortly after dawn, despite his wounds, Sfc. Duke repeatedly braved withering fire to insure maximum defense of each position. Threatened with annihilation and with mounting casualties, the platoon was again ordered to withdraw when Sfc. Duke was wounded a third time in both legs and was unable to walk. Realizing that he was impeding the progress of 2 comrades who were carrying him from the hill, he urged them to leave him and seek safety. He was last seen pouring devastating fire into the ranks of the onrushing assailants. The consummate courage, superb leadership, and heroic actions of Sfc. Duke, displayed during intensive action against overwhelming odds, reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.cite web
accessdate=2007-12-31
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html
title = "RAY E. DUKE" entry
work = Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War
date = July 16, 2007
publisher= CMH, U.S. Army]

ee also

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

Notes

References

*cite web
accessdate=2007-12-31
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html
title = "RAY E. DUKE" entry
work = Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War
date = July 16, 2007
publisher= Center of Military History (CMH), United States Army

External links

*findagrave|7024582 Retrieved on 2008-07-03

Persondata
NAME= Duke, Ray E.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=