- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRonald Eugene Rosser
- Ronald Eugene Rosser was the oldest son of nine boys and eight girls to John Milton and Edith Marie Riffle Rosser. He enlisted in the Army at seventeen in 1946 and served for three years before working briefly as a coal miner after his discharge in 1949. In 1951, he reenlisted after the death of his brother, Richard Rosser, in the Korean War.
On January 12, 1952, then-Cpl. Rosser and the rest of Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment faced an attack from two directions near Ponggilli, Korea. Cpl. Rosser charged the enemy trenches alone until he exhausted all of his ammunition and returned to his Company for more. He courageously repeated these actions three times, killing at least thirteen enemy combatants. Though he was wounded, he repeatedly crossed open terrain under enemy fire to remove his fellow wounded soldiers whose injuries were more severe than his own. Of the 170 men who were with him that day, only 68 returned. Ninety were killed, with 12 more listed as missing in action.
The Medal of Honor was bestowed upon Rosser by President Harry Truman on June 27, 1952, for his acts of service above and beyond the call of duty.
Ronald Rosser served his country as a soldier in the United States Army for twenty years (some of which he spent working as an Army Recruiter in West Palm Beach, Florida) before retiring in 1968. He attempted to reenlist a second time following the death of his brother, PFC Gary Edward Rosser, USMC, during the Vietnam War, but his request was denied.
He was appointed the honorary title of a Brevet Colonel in the Ohio Militia and was also inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. Additionally, he briefly taught at Roosevelt Junior High School in West Palm Beach, Florida after graduating from Atlantic University. Later in his life, he became the Police Chief of Haverhill, Florida and worked at the Department of Veteran's Affairs.
Ronald Rosser passed away in Bumpus Mills, Tennessee, at the age of ninety. He is survived by his daughter and numerous other family members and is burred at the Iliff Cemetery in McLuney, Ohio.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Rachaela
- SpouseSandra Kay Smith(October 25, 1987 - November 18, 2014) (her death)
- Medal of Honor Citation: Cpl. Rosser distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. While assaulting heavily fortified enemy hill positions, Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, was stopped by fierce automatic-weapons, small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire. Cpl. Rosser, a forward observer was with the lead platoon of Company L, when it came under fire from two directions. Cpl. Rosser turned his radio over to his assistant and, disregarding the enemy fire, charged the enemy positions armed with only carbine and a grenade. At the first bunker, he silenced its occupants with a burst from his weapon. Gaining the top of the hill, he killed two enemy soldiers, and then went down the trench, killing five more as he advanced. He then hurled his grenade into a bunker and shot two other soldiers as they emerged. Having exhausted his ammunition, he returned through the enemy fire to obtain more ammunition and grenades and charged the enemy bunkers. Although those who attempted to join him became casualties, Cpl. Rosser once again exhausted his ammunition, obtained a new supply, and returning to the hilltop a third time hurled grenades into the enemy positions. During this heroic action Cpl. Rosser singlehandedly killed at least 13 of the enemy. After exhausting his ammunition he accompanied the withdrawing platoon, and though himself wounded, made several trips across open terrain still under enemy fire to help remove other men injured more seriously than himself. This outstanding soldier's courageous and selfless devotion to duty is worthy of emulation by all men. He has contributed magnificently to the high traditions of the military service.
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