War Stories with Preston and Sayre
Society & Culture
SFC Junior Edwards (E/2-23IN, 2nd ID) Battle of Wonju, Korean War 02JAN1951
02JAN1951: His platoon responsible for holding a strategic hill, SFC Junior Edwards and his men found themselves in the midst of a vicious enemy attack. Taking heavy machine gun fire from a nearby hill, SFC Edwards grabbed a handful of grenades throwing them as he charged the position. Buckling under the daring assault, the enemy team retreated and Edwards moved back with his men.
Shortly thereafter, the enemy again occupied the hillside so SFC Edwards once more picked up a supply of grenades and charged the position destroying the machine gun and killing the crew. Just as he finished his assault, he was quickly driven back by small arms fire from nearby enemy fighters.
Once more, the enemy moved another machine gun into that advantageous position and began laying fire down into Edwards and his men. SFC Edwards again resupplied on grenades and charged, destroying the second machine gun of the day and killing it's crew. During this his third charge into a wall of enemy fire, SFC Junior Edwards was struck and killed at the age of 24.
His bravery in taking out multiple enemy positions that day saved the lives of his men who were in turn able to hold on and repel the ongoing assault. For this selfless act, SFC Junior Edwards would be awarded, posthumously, the Medal of Honor.
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