Born: February 8, 1904
War: Korea
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Location of Action: Near Chosin Reservoir
Date of Action: November 29 to December 10, 1950
Official Medal of Honor Citation: Lt. Col. Page, a member of X Corps Artillery, distinguished
himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of
duty in a series of exploits. On 29 November, Lt. Col. Page left X Corps Headquarters
at Hamhung with the mission of establishing traffic control on the main supply route to
1st Marine Division positions and those of some Army elements on the Chosin Reservoir
plateau. Having completed his mission Lt. Col. Page was free to return to the safety
of Hamhung but chose to remain on the plateau to aid an isolated signal station,
thus being cut off with elements of the marine division.
After rescuing his jeep driver by breaking up an ambush near a destroyed bridge Lt. Col. Page
reached the lines of a surrounded marine garrison at Koto-ri. He then voluntarily developed
and trained a reserve force of assorted army troops trapped with the marines. By exemplary
leadership and tireless devotion he made an effective tactical unit available. In order that
casualties might be evacuated, an airstrip was improvised on frozen ground partly outside of the
Koto-ri defense perimeter which was continually under enemy attack.
During 2 such attacks, Lt. Col. Page exposed himself on the airstrip to direct fire on the
enemy, and twice mounted the rear deck of a tank, manning the machine gun on the turret to
drive the enemy back into a no man's land.
On 3 December while being flown low over enemy lines in a light observation plane,
Lt. Col. Page dropped handgrenades on Chinese positions and sprayed foxholes with
automatic fire from his carbine. After 10 days of constant fighting the marine and
army units in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir had succeeded in gathering at the
edge of the plateau and Lt. Col.Page was flown to Hamhung to arrange for artillery
support of the beleaguered troops attempting to break out. Again Lt. Col. Page refused
an opportunity to remain in safety and returned to give every assistance to his comrades.
As the column slowly moved south Lt. Col. Page joined the rear guard. When it neared the entrance
to a narrow pass it came under frequent attacks on both flanks. Mounting an abandoned tank
Lt. Col. Page manned the machine gun, braved heavy return fire, and covered the passing
vehicles until the danger diminished. Later when another attack threatened his section
of the convoy, then in the middle of the pass, Lt. Col. Page took a machine gun to the
hillside and delivered effective counterfire, remaining exposed while men and vehicles
passed through the ambuscade.
On the night of 10 December the convoy reached the bottom of the pass but was halted
by a strong enemy force at the front and on both flanks. Deadly small-arms fire
poured into the column. Realizing the danger to the column as it lay motionless,
Lt. Col. Page fought his way to the head of the column and plunged forward into the heart of
the hostile position. His intrepid action so surprised the enemy that their ranks became
disordered and suffered heavy casualties. Heedless of his safety, as he had been
throughout the preceding 10 days, Lt. Col. Page remained forward, fiercely engaging the
enemy single-handed until mortally wounded.
By his valiant and aggressive
spirit Lt. Col. Page enabled friendly forces to stand off the enemy. His outstanding courage,
unswerving devotion to duty, and supreme self-sacrifice reflect great credit upon
Lt. Col. Page and are in the highest tradition of the military service.
JOHN U. D. PAGE
