Lee R. Hartell

Infobox Military Person
name= Lee R. Hartell
born=
died= death date|1951|8|27
placeofbirth= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofdeath= Near Kobangsan-ni, Korea
placeofburial=


caption= Medal of Honor recipient Lee Hartell
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears= -1951
rank= First Lieutenant
unit=Battery A, 15th Field Artillery Battalion,2d Infantry Division
battles= Korean War
awards= Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Lee R. Hartell was a soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 27, 1951.

By 26 August 1951, First Lieutenant Hartell was on the ground as a forward observer with B Company, 9th Infantry Regiment at the base of Hill 700 near Kobanson-ni. Hill 700 was attacked and taken by B Company that day. But the Chinese mounted a major counterattack at 0400 hours. Hartell walked the artillery fire right up the hill on top of the charging enemy. Although many of the enemy were cut down, they just kept coming. Although wounded, he kept calling in artillery fire onto his hilltop. Finally at 0630 hours, Hartell was hit in the chest by a bullet and his phone went dead.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Battery A, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Kobangsan-ni, Korea, 27 August 1951

Entered service at: Danbury, Conn. Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

G.O. No.: 16, 1 February 1952.

Citation:

:1st. Lt. Hartell, a member of Battery A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. During the darkness of early morning, the enemy launched a ruthless attack against friendly positions on a rugged mountainous ridge. 1st Lt. Hartell, attached to Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment, as forward observer, quickly moved his radio to an exposed vantage on the ridge line to adjust defensive fires. Realizing the tactical advantage of illuminating the area of approach, he called for flares and then directed crippling fire into the onrushing assailants. At this juncture a large force of hostile troops swarmed up the slope in banzai charge and came within 10 yards of 1st Lt. Hartell's position. 1st Lt. Hartell sustained a severe hand wound in the ensuing encounter but grasped the microphone with his other hand and maintained his magnificent stand until the front and left flank of the company were protected by a close-in wall of withering fire, causing the fanatical foe to disperse and fall back momentarily. After the numerically superior enemy overran an outpost and was closing on his position, 1st Lt. Hartell, in a final radio call, urged the friendly elements to fire both batteries continuously. Although mortally wounded, 1st Lt. Hartell's intrepid actions contributed significantly to stemming the onslaught and enabled his company to maintain the strategic strongpoint. His consummate valor and unwavering devotion to duty reflect lasting glory on himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.cite web
accessdate=2007-12-31
url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html
title = "LEE R. HARTELL" entry
work = Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War
date = July 16, 2007
publisher= CMH, U.S. Army]

Legacy

One of the main roads at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was renamed Hartell Boulevard in his honor. [ [http://www.landscaper.net/korean.htm Korean War 15th Field Artillery Regiment] URL retrieved December 16, 2006] Connecticut Army National Guard has named one of its training installations Camp Hartell

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 = "LEE R. HARTELL" entry
work = Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War
date = July 16, 2007
publisher= Center of Military History (CMH), United States Army

Persondata
NAME= Hartell, Lee R.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH= August 27, 1951
PLACE OF DEATH= Near Kobangsan-ni, Korea