Herbert K. Pililaau

Infobox Military Person
name= Herbert K. Pililaau
born= birth date|1928|10|10
died= death date and age|1951|9|17|1928|10|10
placeofbirth= Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii
placeofdeath= Near Pia-ri, Korea
placeofburial=


caption= Medal of Honor recipient Herbert Pililaau
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=
rank= Private First Class
unit=Company C, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
battles= Korean War
awards= Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Herbert K. Pililaau (October 10, 1928 – September 17, 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 September 17, 1951.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Pia-ri, Korea, September 17, 1951

Entered service at: Oahu, T.H. Born: October 10, 1928, Waianae, Oahu, Hawaii

G.O. No.: 58, June 18, 1952.

Citation:

:Pfc. Pililaau, 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. The enemy sent wave after wave of fanatical troops against his platoon which held a key terrain feature on "Heartbreak Ridge." Valiantly defending its position, the unit repulsed each attack until ammunition became practically exhausted and it was ordered to withdraw to a new position. Voluntarily remaining behind to cover the withdrawal, Pfc. Pililaau fired his automatic weapon into the ranks of the assailants, threw all his grenades and, with ammunition exhausted, closed with the foe in hand-to-hand combat, courageously fighting with his trench knife and bare fists until finally overcome and mortally wounded. When the position was subsequently retaken, more than 40 enemy dead were counted in the area he had so valiantly defended. His heroic devotion to duty, indomitable fighting spirit, and gallant self-sacrifice 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 = "HERBERT K. PILILAAU" 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 = "HERBERT K. PILILAAU" entry
work = Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War
date = July 16, 2007
publisher= Center of Military History (CMH), United States Army

External links

* [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/kw-stale/stale.htm "Korean War - Years of Stalemate", p.9, www.army.mil (official site of the U.S. Army)]

Persondata
NAME = Pililaau, Herbert K.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = recipient of the Medal of Honor during the Korean War
DATE OF BIRTH = October 10, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH = Wai'anae, Hawai'i
DATE OF DEATH = September 17, 1951
PLACE OF DEATH = Near Pia-ri, Korea