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First Name: Oren

Last Name: Atchley

Birthplace: USA

Gender: Male



Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Hunt, TX
Middle Name: Calvin



Date of Birth: 03 November 1911

Date of Death: 31 December 1953 (Presumed)

MIA Date: 24 November 1950

Rank: Lieutenant Colonel

Years Served:
Oren Calvin Atchley

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)
•  Korean War (1950 - 1953)

Biography:

Oren Calvin Atchley
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Medical Corps

In November 1950, Lieutenant Colonel Oren Calvin Atchley was serving as Commanding Officer of the 7th Medical Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 24 November, LTC Atchley organized a search party to attempt to locate an ambulance with wounded men that was missing in enemy territory in the vicinity of Punsan, Korea. The search party was attacked while LTC Atchley was on reconnaissance and separated from the other men. On his return, without hesitation and fully aware of the odds against him, he fired on the enemy, distracting them and giving his men time to escape. When last seen, LTC Atchley was fearlessly standing and urging the others to withdraw. This extraordinary heroism earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Expert Field Medical Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Medical Corps) Oren C. Atchley (ASN: 0-31111), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the 7th Medical Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Colonel Atchley distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Pungsan, Korea, on 24 November 1950. While at a forward command post, Colonel Atchley organized a search party to attempt to locate an ambulance with wounded men that was missing in enemy territory. The search party was attacked while he was on reconnaissance, and he was separated from the other men. On his return, without hesitation and fully aware of the odds against him, he fired on the enemy, distracting them, giving his men time to escape. When last seen he was fearlessly maintaining his stand and urging the others to withdraw.

Memorialization

Lieutenant Colonel Oren Calvin Atchley was presumed dead on 31 December 1953. He is memorialized by his name being inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

He is also memorialized with cenotaphs at:

● Rosemound Cemetery in Commerce, Hunt County, TX, adjoining his wife's grave.
● Malta Cemetery in Malta, Bowie County, TX.



Honoree ID: 216919   Created by: MHOH

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