6: Valor Unveiled: The Heroic Legacies of William Henry Thompson and Cornelius H. Charlton

Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons

Date: July 31, 2024

Legacy Makers: Stories of Black Inventors and Icons

Title and Show Info

Episode #6. “Valor Unveiled: The Heroic Legacies of William Henry Thompson and Cornelius H. Charlton”

Featuring: Toni Davis (Host & Storyteller).

Summary

Welcome to "Valor Unveiled," where we shine a spotlight on the phenomenal bravery of William Henry Thompson and Cornelius H. Charlton, the two African Americans who received the Medal of Honor for their valor in the Korean War. Buckle up for a rollercoaster of courage and inspiration!

First, meet William Henry Thompson, a hero whose legacy is as towering as his bravery. In the heat of battle in Haman, South Korea, on August 6, 1950, Thompson's platoon faced an overwhelming enemy. Retreat was the sensible option, but Thompson chose otherwise. Despite severe wounds, he covered his comrades' withdrawal with unyielding resolve, turning himself into a one-man shield. His heroism saved countless lives and earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor, making him a symbol of ultimate sacrifice and bravery.

Now, let's talk about Cornelius H. Charlton, whose audacity and leadership were nothing short of legendary. On June 2, 1951, near Chipo-Ri, Korea, Charlton took command after his platoon leader was wounded. Leading a fearless assault against a fortified enemy, Charlton's indomitable spirit turned the tide. Even after sustaining severe injuries, he pressed on, refusing evacuation and continuing the fight until he was fatally wounded. His courage under fire earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor, highlighting his relentless determination and leadership.

Thompson and Charlton's stories are not just tales of battlefield heroics; they are powerful narratives of overcoming racial barriers and inspiring future generations. Their legacy reminds us that true heroism knows no bounds. Join us on "Valor Unveiled" to celebrate these incredible men and their enduring impact.

Highlights:

00:56- EPILOGUE

01:27- INTRO.

01:34- WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON’S BIRTH.

01:39- SINGLE MOTHER.

02:02- WILLIAM ENLIST IN THE US ARMY.

02:14- ADAK, ALASKA.

02:36- WILLIAM REENLIST IN THE US ARMY.

02:38- SOUTH KOREA.

02:50- REASSIGNED TO JAPAN.

02:59- 24TH INFANTRY. 25TH DIVISION. SEGREGATED UNIT.

03:27- KOREAN WAR ERUPTS.

03:43- DEPLOYED TO SOUTH KOREA.

03:57- BATTLE OF SANGJU.

04:28- HAMAN, SOUTH KOREA.

05:15- WOUNDED MULTIPLE TIMES.

05:30- LIEUTENANT ORDERS A RETREAT.

05:39- WILLIAM MAINTAINS HIS POST.

06:02- WOUNDED BODY RETRIEVED BY FELLOW SOLDIERS.

06:02- WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON’S DEATH.

06:42- MEDAL OF HONOR

07:14- 1ST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO RECEIVE THE MEDAL SINCE THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

07:22- RECEIVES THE PURPLE HEART.

07:27- MEDAL PRESERVATION

07:45- RESTING PLACE.

08:14- CORNELIUS H. CHARLTON’S BIRTH.

08:30- PARENTS.

08:50- RELOCATION TO BRONX, NY.

09:06- JAMES MONROE HIGH SCHOOL.

09:15- GRADUATES HIGH SCHOOL & ENLISTS IN THE US ARMY.

09:31- DEPLOYED TO ALLIED- OCCUPIED GERMANY.

09:40- REENLISTS & ASSIGNED TO MARYLAND.

09:49- DEPLOYED TO ALLIED-OCCUPIED JAPAN.

10:10- REQUEST COMBAT DUTY IN THE KOREAN WAR.

10:16- TRANSFERRED TO COMPANY C. 24TH INFANTRY. 25TH DIVISION IN KOREA.

10:50- OPERATION PILEDRIVER. HILL 543. CHIPO-RI, SOUTH KOREA.

11:17- HE ASSUMES COMMAND.

11:29- WOUNDED MULTIPLE TIMES.

11:54- CORNELIUS CHARGES ALONE.

12:10- SUCCUMBS TO HIS INJURIES.

12:21- REMAINS RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY.

12:30- MEDAL OF HONOR AND THE PURPLE HEART.

12:51- REINTERRED MULTIPLE TIMES.

13:21- MEDAL OF HONOR PRESERVATION.

13:31- HEROISM COMMEMORATED IN NUMEROUS WAYS.

15:13- LIST OF AWARDS FOR HIS SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND BRAVERY.

16:14- CONCLUSION.

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Links To Additional Resources:

William Henry Thompson | Korean War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient (cmohs.org)

William Thompson (Medal of Honor, 1950) - Wikipedia

William Thompson (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

William Thompson - Recipient - (militarytimes.com)

William H. Thompson Collection | Library of Congress (loc.gov)

Korean War - African American Veterans Monument (aavmwny.org)

A Soldier's Story: Private First Class William Henry Thompson (everydaypatriot.com)

William Thompson's memorial page - Honor Veterans Legacies at VLM (va.gov)

Black Soldiers, Purple Hearts | Ann Arbor District Library (aadl.org)

50 states, 50 heroes: Standing ground - Austin Daily Herald | Austin Daily Herald

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (thepurpleheart.com)

TIL PFC William Thompson was the first of two African Americans in Korea to receive the Medal of Honor since the Spanish-American War. Both Medals were awarded posthumously. : r/todayilearned (reddit.com)=

(3) For #BlackHistoryMonth NCA salutes, William Henry Thompson, a #Army soldier, and a posthumous recipient of the #MOH, for his actions in the #KoreanWar. Thompson was born in Aug.16, 1927, in New York City. He enlisted in the US Army in 1945 and completed one tour of duty. He reenlisted in January 1948, serving with the 24th Infantry from 1949–1950. On Aug. 6, 1950, near Haman in South Korea, Thompson provided cover for comrades as they withdrew from a surprise enemy attack. His courage was recognized posthumously with the Medal of Honor in June 1951. Thompson is one of two black soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor for service in the war. Thompson died Aug. 23, 1950. He is interred at Long Island National Cemetery. Pay tribute at https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/WILLIAMTHOMPSON/DA52BF0 #HonoringVets #AfricanAmericanHistory... - National Cemetery Administration (NCA) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Facebook= (see for actual tombstone & DOB & DOD)

(4) #OTD 1950, PFC William H. Thompson, of the mostly segregated 24th Infantry Regiment, was killed in the Battle of Masan during the larger Pusan Perimeter offensive of the Korean War. Thompson grew up impoverished in Brooklyn, NY and enlisted in the Army late in 1945 shortly after turning 18. He was trained as a heavy weapons infantryman. On the night of his death, Thompson’s unit was ambushed by a detachment of North Korean troops. Many in in Thompson’s unit retreated, however, he manned his Browning machine gun to cover them. Injured numerous times by grenade fragments and small arms fire, Thompson refused to withdraw. His comrades reported a large grenade blast before his gun finally went silent. Thompson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his selfless action. He was the first of only two African Americans to receive this honor in the Korean War. Thompson’s heroics were initially overshadowed by the poor performance of the 24th early in the war and unfounded racially motivated criticisms. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery (Section... - National Cemetery Administration (NCA) U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Facebook

Cornelius H Charlton | Korean War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient (cmohs.org)

Cornelius H. Charlton (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Cornelius H. Charlton - Wikipedia

Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton (navy.mil)

Cornelius H. Charlton | American Battle Monuments Commission (abmc.gov)

West Virginia Veterans Memorial - Cornelius H. Charlton (wvculture.org)

Cornelius Charlton - Recipient - (militarytimes.com)

Hero 130 - Cornelius H. Charlton - The Grateful Nation Project (herocards.us)

Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7 - HONORING SERGEANT CORNELIUS H. CHARLTON, ``THE HERO OF HILL 543'' (govinfo.gov)

Secretary Frank Pace with the Family of Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton | Harry S. Truman (trumanlibrary.gov)

Cornelius H Charlton | Korean War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient (cmohs.org)

DVIDS - Images - Black History Month: Sgt. Cornelius Charlton [Image 2 of 2] (dvidshub.net)

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor (thepurpleheart.com)

The Korean War: Honoring Cornelius Charlton and William Thompson - Congressional Medal of Honor Society (cmohs.org)

NKHC-2018-BHM-African-Americans-in-Times-of-War-commemorative-document.pdf (taichicago.org)= both

Medal of Honor - Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)= both