Dean, William F. (POW)
Rank and organization: Major General,
U.S. Army, commanding general, 24th Infantry Division
Place and date: Taejon, Korea, 20 and
21 July 1950
Entered service at: California
Born: 1 August 1899, Carlyle, IL
General Order Number 7, 16 February
1951
Maj. Gen. Dean distinguished himself by
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the repeated risk of his
life above and beyond the call of duty. In command of a unit
suddenly relieved from occupation duties in Japan and as yet untried
in combat, faced with a ruthless and determined enemy, highly
trained and overwhelmingly superior in numbers, he felt it his duty
to take action which to a man of his military experience and
knowledge was clearly apt to result in his death. He personally and
alone attacked an enemy tank while armed only with a handgrenade. He
also directed the fire of his tanks from an exposed position with
neither cover nor concealment while under observed artillery and
small-arm fire. When the town of Taejon was finally overrun he
refused to insure his own safety by leaving with the leading
elements but remained behind organizing his retreating forces,
directing stragglers, and was last seen assisting the wounded to a
place of safety. These actions indicate that Maj. Gen. Dean felt it
necessary to sustain the courage and resolution of his troops by
examples of excessive gallantry committed always at the threatened
portions of his frontlines. The magnificent response of his unit to
this willing and cheerful sacrifice, made with full knowledge of its
certain cost, is history. The success of this phase of the campaign
is in large measure due to Maj. Gen. Dean's heroic leadership,
courageous and loyal devotion to his men, and his complete disregard
for personal safety.
Compiler: Merry Helm, Association Historian
Link: William F. Dean - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia