George D. Libby
George Dalton Libby was a soldier in the United States Army who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on July 20, 1950 during the Korean War.
Serving with the 24th Infantry Division, Sergeant Libby was attempting to withdraw from Taejon after the Battle of Taejon when the truck he was riding in was disabled by North Korean fire. Libby exposed himself to enemy fire multiple times to help wounded soldiers, before using himself as a human shield to protect the driver of another truck as they broke through the North Korean forces. Shot multiple times, Libby died from blood loss, but was able to protect a truck full of wounded men until they escaped to allied lines. For this action, Libby was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Early life
George Dalton Libby was born on 4 December 1919 in Bridgton, Maine. He enlisted in the United States Army in Waterbury, Connecticut.Libby fought in World War II in the European Theatre of Operations.
Korean War
By the time of the outbreak of the Korean War, Libby was a sergeant and had been assigned to C Company of the 3rd Engineer Battalion, 24th Infantry Division.On 20 July 1950, the 24th Infantry Division was attempting to withdraw from the city of Taejon, South Korea, after having been badly beaten by the North Korean Korean People's Army in the Battle of Taejon. By nightfall, the last remaining elements of the division were attempting to leave the town for Taegu. Libby was aboard a truck to the east of town attempting to evacuate when it reached a KPA roadblock. The KPA there ambushed the truck, disabling it and killing or wounding everyone aboard except Libby with gunfire.
Libby disembarked from the damaged truck, taking cover in a ditch and returning fire. During this fight, Libby twice exposed himself to fire to run across the road to assist other wounded soldiers. After rendering medical aid to the wounded, and pulling them out of the line of fire, Libby then stopped a passing M5 Half-track which was towing a 105 mm howitzer and loaded them onto it. Libby then took a position on the outside of the truck, protecting the driver with his own body and again exposing himself to fire, as he was the only unwounded soldier capable of carrying a weapon,
Having the vehicle stop several times to load more wounded onto it, Libby continued to fire his M2 Carbine at the KPA they encountered as they attempted to escape. Libby was struck several times in the body and arms by bullets as they broke through the first roadblock. At a second roadblock, Libby was struck again by gunfire. Too weak to hold his weapon, Libby pulled himself to an erect position in order to be a human shield for the driver until they were out of the range of enemy fire. Libby eventually collapsed and died from blood loss, but his actions allowed the truck full of wounded men to reach safety.
On 2 August 1951, the army posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Libby.