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Jack Weinstein |
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Engagements: • Korean War (1950 - 1953) |
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| Biography: | ||||
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Jack Weinstein Jack Weinstein was born in Lamar, MO, on 18 October 1928. He was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1950. Weinstein is being recognized for his exceptionally valorous actions while serving with Company G, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, on 19 October 1951, in the vicinity of Kumson, Korea, when his platoon came under enemy attack. He volunteered to stay back and provide cover while his men withdrew from their positions. Weinstein killed six enemy combatants and, after running out of ammunition, used enemy grenades around him to keep the enemy forces back. Weinstein held his position until friendly forces moved back in and pushed the enemy back. Post-Military Life After a year and a half in Korea, Weinstein returned home, married, and settled in Saint Francis, KS. Weinstein and his wife had five children, nine grand-children, and four great-grand-children. Medals, Awards & Badges Medal of Honor * * Medal of Honor Seeking to correct potential acts of bias spanning three wars, and following a Congressionally-mandated review to ensure that eligible veterans were not bypassed due to prejudice, the Medal of Honor will be awarded to 24 Army veterans. The unusual mass ceremony, scheduled for 18 March 2014, will honor veterans, most of Hispanic or Jewish heritage, who had already received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest military award for valor. Only three of the recipients are living. The Army conducted the review under a directive from Congress in the 2002 National Defense Authorization Act. The law required that the record of each Jewish American and Hispanic American veteran who received a Distinguished Service Cross, during or after World War II, be reviewed for possible upgrade to the Medal of Honor. The Army reviewed the cases of the 6,505 recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and found an eligible pool of 600 soldiers who may have been Jewish or Hispanic. The Army also worked with the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, the Jewish War Veterans of the USA and the American GI Forum, the largest Hispanic-American veterans group, to pinpoint potential medal recipients. Of the 24, seven fought in World War II, nine in the Korean War, and eight in the Vietnam War. Since the award of the Medal of Honor is an upgrade to the Distinguished Service Cross already received by SGT Weinstein, it is based on the valorous actions in the Citation for his DSC. Distinguished Service Cross Citation: On Oct. 19, 1951, near Hill 533, Sgt. Weinstein was in the lead as the first platoon of Company G attempted to take an enemy-held position. After gaining the ground, the platoon, consisting of two five-man squads, was hit by a fierce counter-attack by about 30 fanatical Chinese Communist troops. Most of the members of the platoon had been wounded in the previous action and withdrew under the heavy attack. Weinstein remained in his position and continued to fight off the onrushing enemy. At least six of the enemies were killed by Weinstein’s M-1 rifle before he ran out of ammunition. Although under extremely heavy enemy fire, he refused to withdraw and continued fighting by throwing enemy hand grenades which were lying near his position. Again, the enemy was stopped and suffered my casualties. Alone and unaided he held the ground his platoon had fought hard to take. He held out against overwhelming odds until another platoon was able relieve him and drive-back the enemy. Weinstein’s leg had been broken by an enemy grenade and old wounds suffered in previous battles had reopened, but he refused to do withdraw in order that his wounded comrades could reach friendly lines. His outstanding courage and complete disregard for his own life was an inspiration to his comrades and reflect great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Infantry. Death and Burial Sergeant Jack Weinstein died on 20 April 2006, at the age of 77. He is buried at Cheyenne Valley Cemetery in Wheeler, Cheyenne County, KS. |
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| Honoree ID: 228016 | Created by: MHOH | |||
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