PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
WALTER CARLETON MONEGAN, JR., USMC (DECEASED) 

 

Medal of Honor Citation

Private First Class Walter C. Monegan, Jr., earned the Medal of Honor in Korea when he gave his life to help repulse an overwhelming enemy tank and infantry attack. He was killed 20 September 1950, near Seoul, as he calmly stepped out into the heavy fire of an enemy tank-infantry attack and proceeded to methodically knock out the tanks at close range with his rocket.

The Medal of Honor was presented to his widow by Secretary of the Navy Daniel A. Kimball, during ceremonies 8 February 1952, in Washington, D.C.

Walter Carleton Monegan, Jr., was born 25 December 1930 in Melrose, Massachusetts. He attended schools in Malden, Reading, and Walpole, Massachusetts, and in November 1947 (before his seventeenth birthday), enlisted in the Army. He was discharged in January 1948, when his age was discovered, and enlisted in the Marine Corps, 22 March 1948 in Baltimore, Maryland.

After completing his recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina, in June 1948, PFC Monegan was ordered to San Francisco, where he sailed for duty in China with the 3d Marines at Tsingtao.

He returned to the United States in June 1949 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, until June 1950, when he was ordered to the Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station, Seattle. He reenlisted, 20 July 1950, and the following month returned to Camp Pendleton, where he joined the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, with which he fought in Korea.

He participated in the Inchon landing, 15 September 1950 and was killed in action five days later. He was originally buried in Inchon, Korea, but was reinterred, 19 July 1951, in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

In addition to the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart Medal, his decorations include: the Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star; the China Service Medal; and the Korean Service Medal with one bronze star.

Korean War Medal of Honor