Black and white photograph of William Medina
SFC William Medina served as Assistant Platoon Leader of Company B, 224th Infantry Regiment,
40th Infantry Division when he was sent to Korea in 1952. The unit was assigned to defend Heartbreak
Ridge, one of several mountains circling a valley known as The Punch Bowl. Medina was there only
three weeks before waves of Chinese soldiers overran the Allied trenches in a night attack. Medina
was engaged in vicious hand-to-hand fighting when he suffered a near fatal leg wound from an
enemy bayonet. The Chinese were driven back. Medina was evacuated to a MASH unit for treatment.
Two weeks later, he was back in the trenches. For his action during this battle, Medina was awarded
Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medals.
Donated by José Aguayo to HCC on 1/27/2022