Second Lieutenant
United States Marine Corps
CITATION
Second
Lieutenant Robert D. Reem
United States Marine Corps
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his
own life above and beyond the call of duty as Platoon Commander in Company
H, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in
action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chinhung-ni, Korea,
on 6 November 1950. Grimly determined to dislodge a group of heavy enemy infantry
units occupying well-concealed and strongly fortified positions on commanding
ground overlooking unprotected terrain, Second Lieutenant Reem moved slowly
forward up the side of the ridge with his platoon in the face of a veritable
hail of shattering hostile machine-gun, grenade and rifle fire. Three times
repulsed by a resolute enemy force in achieving his objective, and pinned
down by the continuing fury of hostile fire, rallied and regrouped the heroic
men in his depleted and disorganized platoon in preparation for a forth attack.
Issuing last-minute orders to his non-commissioned officers when an enemy
grenade landed in a depression of rocky ground in which the group was standing.
Second Lieutenant Reem unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and, springing
upon the deadly missile, absorbed the full impact of the explosion in his
own body, thus protecting others form serious injury and possible death, Stout-hearted
and indomitable, he readily yielded his own chance of survival that his subordinate
leaders might live. Decisiveness and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the
face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Reem
and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Harry
S. Truman
President of the United States
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