Corporal Jack A. Davenport

An ardent athlete and a Golden Gloves champion, he was born in 1931 in Kansas City, Missouri, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1950. Sent to Korea that December, he took part in four successive operations. Then, as a squad leader with Company G, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, he died in a valorous action at the Punchbowl on 21 September 1951.

His citation for the Medal of Honor read, in part:

While expertly directing the defense of his position during a probing attack by hostile forces attempting to infiltrate the area, Corporal Davenport, acting quickly when an enemy grenade fell into the foxhole which he was occupying with another Marine, skillfully located the deadly projectile in the dark and, undeterred by the personal risk involved, heroically threw himself over the live missile, thereby saving his companion from serious injury or possible death. His cool and resourceful leadership were contributing factors in the successful repulse of the enemy attack.

The man in that same foxhole was Private First Class Walter L. Barfoot, and, due to Davenport's heroic self-sacrifice, he survived the war. Later, a gymnasium at Camp Pendleton, California, was named in honor of Corporal Davenport.

Department of Defense Photo (USMC) A48023