George Samuel Buck
 

Rank and organization:
Second Lieutenant U.S. Army, Battery C, 39th Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division
Place and date: Near Surang-ni, Korea, 10 to 11 June 1953.

Citation:

2nd Lt. George Sam Buck, a member of the 39th Field Artillery Battalion assigned as Forward Observer to Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Company K was committed to the defense of "Outpost Harry", a strategically valuable position, when the enemy launched a reinforced regimental sized attack against the company. 2nd Lt. Buck moving about the outpost units while constantly exposing himself to direct enemy fire effectively called for defensive fire from the supporting indirect fire units. Learning that the enemy had reached the trenches he returned to the company command post on the outpost. 2nd Lt. Buck took a position just inside the command bunker and along with the company commander and executive officer; they repulsed several attempts by the enemy to seize the command post. The enemy threw grenades into the bunker, seriously wounding the company commander and mortally wounding the executive officer, both being knocked unconscious. Lt. Buck although seriously wounded remained at the bunker entrance protecting those inside the bunker and rendered first aid to the company commander. Repeatedly the enemy attempted to enter the bunker only to be denied entrance by the deadly carbine fire from Lt. Buck. He remained in radio contact with support units. When it became apparent that the position was untenable, he called for artillery fire upon his position, stopping the enemy advance. The enemy threw more grenades into the bunker knocking Lt. Buck down, this time wounding him in the leg and arm. On two more occasions when enemy soldiers stepped into the doorway to fire, Lt. Buck killed them, denying the enemy control of the command post and saving the life of his fellow soldiers. Finding that his carbine was jammed as the enemy entered the bunker, he wiped blood from his wounds on to his face and lay still beside the two unconscious company officers. When the K Company officers started to regain consciousness, the enemy shot them both, killing the executive officer and again wounding the company commander. Reinforcements drove the enemy from the outpost and not until Lt. Buckís Artillery forward observer replacement arrived, did Lt. Buck leave the outpost.

2nd Lt. Buck's valorous conduct and unflinching courage reflect lasting glory upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.