COLLIER, JOHN W.

RANK AND ORGANIZATION: Corporal, U. S. Army, Company C, 27th Infantry. BORN: Worthington, Kentucky.
ENTERED SERVICE AT: Worthington, Kentucky.
PLACE AND DATE: Chindong-ni, Korea, 19 September 1950.

CITATION:
Corporal John W. Collier, Company C, 27th Infantry Regiment, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action near Chindong-ni, Korea, on 19 September 1950. While engaged in an assault on a strategic ridge strongly defended by a fanatical enemy, the leading elements of his company encountered intense automatic weapons and grenade fire. Corporal Collier and three comrades volunteered and moved forward to neutralize an enemy machine-gun position which was hampering the company's advance but they were twice repulsed. On the third attempt, Corporal Collier, despite heavy enemy fire and grenade barrages, moved to an exposed position ahead of his comrades, assaulted and destroyed the machine-gun nest, killing at least four enemy soldiers. As he returned down the rocky fire-swept hill and joined his squad, an enemy grenade landed in their midst. Shouting a warning to his comrades, he, selflessly and unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade and smothered its explosion with his body. This intrepid action saved his comrades from death or injury. Corporal Collier's supreme personal bravery, consummate gallantry, and noble self-sacrifice reflect untold glory upon himself and uphold the honored traditions of the military service.