Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr.

Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr.
Medal of Honor recipient Mitchell Red Cloud
Born	July 2, 1924(1924-07-02) near Hatfield, Wisconsin
Died	November 5, 1950(1950-11-05) (aged 26) near Chonghyon, Korea
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps United States Army
Years of service	1941 - 1945 (USMC) 1948 - 1950 (USA)
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Company E, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Korean War
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. (July 2, 1924, near Hatfield, Wisconsin – November 5, 1950, near Chonghyon, Korea) was a soldier in the United States Army during the Korean War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 5, 1950.

Red Cloud had previously served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

He was a member of the Ho-Chunk Native American tribe.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Corporal, U S. Army, Company E, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Chonghyon, Korea, November 5, 1950

Entered service at: Merrillan, Wisconsin

Born: July 2, 1924 in Hatfield, Wisconsin

G.O. No.: 26, April 25, 1951.

Citation:

Cpl. Red Cloud, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. From his position on the point of a ridge immediately in front of the company command post he was the first to detect the approach of the Chinese Communist forces and give the alarm as the enemy charged from a brush-covered area less than 100 feet from him. Springing up, he delivered devastating pointblank automatic rifle fire into the advancing enemy. His accurate and intense fire checked this assault and gained time for the company to consolidate its defense. With utter fearlessness he maintained his firing position until severely wounded by enemy fire. Refusing assistance he pulled himself to his feet and, wrapping his arm around a tree, continued his deadly fire again, until he was fatally wounded. This heroic act stopped the enemy from overrunning his company's position and gained time for reorganization and evacuation of the wounded. Cpl. Red Cloud's dauntless courage and gallant self-sacrifice reflects the highest credit upon himself and upholds the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army.

Legacy

On Armed Forces Day, May 18, 1957, the United States Army named Camp Red Cloud after him, in recognition of his actions.

The U.S. Navy named USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR-313) after him in 1999.

A plaque honoring him (as Mitchell RedCloud Jr.) has been erected in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. It is at the Field of Honor memorial by the Chamber of Commerce Building, 101 S. 2nd Street.

A park in his honor was opened in 1953 at 520 Powell St on the north side of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The United States Marine Corps' Combat Logistics Battalion 6, based out of Camp Lejeune, NC, adopted the name "Red Cloud Battalion" in his honor. The battalion has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the OIF and OEF.

A marker was erected in his honor adjacent to the Black Hawk Powwow Grounds in Komensky, Wisconsin.

See also

• List of Korean War Medal of Honor recipients
• Camp Red Cloud
• Red Cloud

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

• "Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr.". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7932505. Retrieved 2007-12-28. 

• ""Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr." entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html. Retrieved 2007-01-01. 
• "Red Cloud, Mitchell, Jr.". United States Marine Raider Association. http://www.usmarineraiders.org/medal_redcloud.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-16.