Medal of Honor Recipient Ronald E. Rosser

In a telephone interview conducted by Marty Black, Mr. Rosser told of his experiences with the M2 Carbine during the Korean War:

The carbine cartridge would indeed penetrate the heavy quilt jackets worn by the Communist Chinese forces, but often their momentum, fueled by opium, would allow the enemy to continue forward for several steps, much like a wounded deer. In such cases, Mr. Rosser would aim for the head…The M2 Carbine was very effective if kept clean. “If you took care of it, it would take care of you.” His favorite weapons were the M2 Carbine and the hand grenade. He became skilled at holding the carbine tightly with his right arm, while he kept a grenade handy in his other hand. “Point and fire.” Although he mounted a bayonet a few times in combat, he never had to use it. He did, however, use a carbine to buttstroke a wounded enemy soldier on several occasions. He never doubled-up the 30-round magazines with tape, as some soldiers did, because it made the carbine too heavy and caused problems with failure to feed.

Corporal Rosser served as a Forward Observer with the Heavy Weapons Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, and earned the Medal of Honor near Ponggilli, S. Korea on January 12, 1952. He was the oldest of 17 children. One brother was killed early in the Korean War, and another in 1968 during the Vietnam War. More information on Mr. Rosser can be found on the internet, including Youtube.

Rosser's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

 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 2 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 2 enemy soldiers, and then went down the trench, killing 5 more as he advanced. He then hurled his grenade into a bunker and shot 2 other soldiers as they emerged. Having exhausted his ammunition, he returned through the enemy fire to obtain more ammunition and grenades and charged the hill once more. Calling on others to follow him, he assaulted 2 more 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 single-handedly 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.