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Darwin K. Kyle

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Darwin K. Kyle
Medal of Honor recipient
Nickname(s)Gus
Born(1918-06-01)June 1, 1918
Jenkins, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 1951(1951-02-16) (aged 32)
near Kamil-ni, Korea
Place of burial
Sunset Memorial Park, South Charleston, West Virginia
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1939–1951
RankSecond Lieutenant
UnitCompany K, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War  †
AwardsMedal of Honor
Purple Heart
Soldier's Medal
Bronze Star
Silver Star

Darwin Keith Kyle (June 1, 1918 – February 16, 1951) a veteran soldier in the United States Army in World War II, Darwin Kyle earned both a Silver Star and Bronze Star for his heroic actions in France and Germany. A Master Sergeant at the beginning of the Korean War, "Gus" was awarded the Soldier's Medal for his heroic actions on December 24, 1950, during the final stages of the Hungnam evacuation.

On January 27, 1951, he received a battlefield commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was killed in action on February 16, 1951, and on January 16, 1952, at the Pentagon, his widow accepted the posthumous award of the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.

Kyle joined the Army from Racine, West Virginia, in November 1939.[1]

Medal of Honor citation

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Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company K, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Kamil-ni, Korea, February 16, 1951

Entered service at: Racine, W. Va. Born: June 1, 1918, Jenkins, Kentucky

G.O. No.: 17, February 1, 1952

Citation

2d Lt. Kyle, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When his platoon had been pinned down by intense fire, he completely exposed himself to move among and encourage his men to continue the advance against enemy forces strongly entrenched on Hill 185. Inspired by his courageous leadership, the platoon resumed the advance but was again pinned down when an enemy machine gun opened fire, wounding 6 of the men. 2d Lt. Kyle immediately charged the hostile emplacement alone, engaged the crew in hand-to-hand combat, killing all 3. Continuing on toward the objective, his platoon suddenly received an intense automatic-weapons fire from a well-concealed hostile position on its right flank. Again leading his men in a daring bayonet charge against this position, firing his carbine and throwing grenades, 2d Lt. Kyle personally destroyed 4 of the enemy before he was killed by a burst from an enemy submachine gun. The extraordinary heroism and outstanding leadership of 2d Lt. Kyle, and his gallant self-sacrifice, reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the military service.[2]

Legacy

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The U.S. Army named a camp after 2d Lt. Kyle, Camp Kyle, near Uijeongbu, South Korea.[3]

Darwin K. Kyle Historical Marker in Jenkins, KY

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ WWII Army Enlistment Records
  2. ^ ""DARWIN K. KYLE" entry". Medal of Honor recipients: Korean War. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  3. ^ "Camp Kyle nearly empty as last U.S. forces depart". Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2006.

References

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
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