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First Name: Richard

Last Name: Van Cleave

Birthplace: USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: Lubbock, TX
Middle Name: C.



Date of Birth: 08 March 1933

Date of Death: 29 May 1951

Rank: Corporal

Years Served:
Richard C. Van Cleave

   
Engagements:
•  Korean War (1950 - 1953)

Biography:

Richard C. Van Cleave
Corporal, U.S. Army

In May 1951, Corporal Richard C. Van Cleave was serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in Korea.

On 28 May, CPL Van Cleave's unit was engaged with enemy forces in the vicinity of Chonjae-dong, South Korea, and CPL Van Cleave was a member of the lead squad in Company A's assault against a well-entrenched enemy force. Several attempts to advance were made by the lead elements, but all of them were repulsed by the enemy. As darkness approached, CPL Van Cleave, armed with grenades and a rifle, charged the enemy in the face of intense small-arms and automatic-weapons fire and single-handedly destroyed an enemy machine-gun emplacement, killing the entire crew. At this time, the entire Company, inspired by CPL Van Cleave's actions, rose from their positions and joined in an assault that successfully routed the enemy. Near the summit of the just-secured hill, a band of enemy soldiers regrouped to make a final stand. CPL Van Cleave charged into their devastating fire and, although seriously wounded, closed with the enemy and engaged them in hand-to-hand combat. Demoralized by his aggressiveness, the remaining enemy forces fled. CPL Van Cleave remained in command of his squad throughout the night and, only after the final objective was secured, did he finally collapse from, and later in the morning die of, the many wounds he had received. CPL Van Cleave's courageous actions earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Combat Infantryman 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 Corporal Richard C. Van Cleave (ASN: RA-18347428), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Corporal Van Cleave distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chonjae-dong, Korea, on 28 May 1951. On that date, Corporal Van Cleave was a member of the lead squad in his unit's assault against a well-entrenched and determined enemy force. Several attempts to advance were made by the lead elements, but all of them were repulsed by the enemy. As darkness approached, Corporal Van Cleave, armed with grenades and a rifle, charged the enemy in the face of intense small-arms and automatic-weapons fire and single-handedly destroyed an enemy machine-gun emplacement, killing the entire crew. At this time, the entire company, inspired by Corporal Van Cleave's actions, rose from their positions and joined in an assault that successfully routed the enemy. Near the summit of the hill just secured, a band of enemy soldiers regrouped to make a final stand. Corporal Van Cleave charged into their devastating fire and, although seriously wounded, closed with the enemy and engaged them in hand-to-hand combat. Completely demoralized by his aggressiveness, the remaining enemy forces fled. Corporal Van Cleave remained in command of his squad throughout the night and, not until the final objective was secured, did he finally collapse from and later die of the many wounds he had received.

General Orders: Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 624 (August 8, 1951)

Burial

Corporal Richard C. Van Cleave is buried at Clyde Cemetery in Clyde, Callahan County, TX.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69804292



Honoree ID: 220262   Created by: MHOH

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