Richard Wells Durkee

Distinguished Service Cross : The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Richard W. Durkee (ASN: 0-1325809), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Durkee distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Uijongbu, Korea, on 23 March 1951. On that date, while attacking well defended enemy positions on Hill 221, the 1st Platoon of Company L was subjected to intense small arms fire and pinned down. After ordering the remainder of the platoon to furnish covering fire, Lieutenant Drupe led the 1st squad in an assault on the enemy entrenchment's. When his ammunition was expended, Lieutenant Durkee single-handedly assaulted an enemy position and killed the occupant with his bayonet. Unable to remove his bayonet from the body of the dead soldier, he went unarmed to another hostile position, seized an enemy soldier's rifle by the bayonet, wrested the weapon from his hands and clubbed him to death. Although his hand was seriously lacerated during this action, Lieutenant Durkee continued to lead the assault against the enemy and his men, inspired by the fearlessness of their leader, overwhelmed the hostile troops and secured the objective. Lieutenant Durkee's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.