John Page studied engineering at Princeton, wanted to go to West Point, but his bad eyes kept him out. He was called up in WWII and developed a reputation for getting outfits into shape for combat. He was very good at his job. So good, that when the Korean War started, he was doing the same job. He pulled some strings to get into combat.
He had a special mission to establish communications from Koto-ri to the Chosin Reservoir. He and his jeep driver were attacked several times and when night fell, they were attacked again. Page told the driver to stay with the jeep while he stood in the middle of the road and sprayed enemy positions. The Chinese were so startled that they didn't return fire and they were able to escape, quickly. Page yelled at the jeep driver to slow down before he got them killed.
His next job was extending an airstrip. They were surrounded by snipers and Page had to man the .50s on a tank turret while telling the tank crew where to go to intercept the enemy who was firing on them from the hills. At one point he noticed a sniper in a shack and charged the tank toward the shack. He tried to get the crew to stop but they ran right over the shack with the sniper inside.
He then flew over Chinese positions in an observation plane, sprayed foxholes with his carbine and dropped a few grenades with surprising accuracy.
His column was stopped in the Funchilin Pass he grabbed machine gun and ran up a hill to establish a position where he was able to 'neutralize' the threat. In the next attack he did his 'tank trick', charging the enemy while blazing away with the .50s. They were ambushed at Sudong and ran on foot to the front of the column where he cleared the path again. The enemy had thrown grenades into the column and several trucks were on fire and the drivers killed. There was no leadership, so Page grabbed two marines. When fired on one of the marines stopped at the head of the column, the other went with Page when he charged a group of about 30 Chinese, scattering them, but one threw a grenade and the blast wounded the Marine. Page told him to get back while charged again into the Chinese. With the pressure off, the column was able to counterattack and began rolling again. They came upon the body of John Page and sixteen Chinese that he had taken with him.
Lt. Colonel John Page was awarded the Navy Cross. Since his actions were spread over days in different locations, eyewitnesses needed to be assembled to verify it. It wasn't until 1957 that his saga was pieced together and he was granted the Medal of Honor. Nobody that saw him during those 12 days doubted that he deserved it.
He had a special mission to establish communications from Koto-ri to the Chosin Reservoir. He and his jeep driver were attacked several times and when night fell, they were attacked again. Page told the driver to stay with the jeep while he stood in the middle of the road and sprayed enemy positions. The Chinese were so startled that they didn't return fire and they were able to escape, quickly. Page yelled at the jeep driver to slow down before he got them killed.
His next job was extending an airstrip. They were surrounded by snipers and Page had to man the .50s on a tank turret while telling the tank crew where to go to intercept the enemy who was firing on them from the hills. At one point he noticed a sniper in a shack and charged the tank toward the shack. He tried to get the crew to stop but they ran right over the shack with the sniper inside.
He then flew over Chinese positions in an observation plane, sprayed foxholes with his carbine and dropped a few grenades with surprising accuracy.
His column was stopped in the Funchilin Pass he grabbed machine gun and ran up a hill to establish a position where he was able to 'neutralize' the threat. In the next attack he did his 'tank trick', charging the enemy while blazing away with the .50s. They were ambushed at Sudong and ran on foot to the front of the column where he cleared the path again. The enemy had thrown grenades into the column and several trucks were on fire and the drivers killed. There was no leadership, so Page grabbed two marines. When fired on one of the marines stopped at the head of the column, the other went with Page when he charged a group of about 30 Chinese, scattering them, but one threw a grenade and the blast wounded the Marine. Page told him to get back while charged again into the Chinese. With the pressure off, the column was able to counterattack and began rolling again. They came upon the body of John Page and sixteen Chinese that he had taken with him.
Lt. Colonel John Page was awarded the Navy Cross. Since his actions were spread over days in different locations, eyewitnesses needed to be assembled to verify it. It wasn't until 1957 that his saga was pieced together and he was granted the Medal of Honor. Nobody that saw him during those 12 days doubted that he deserved it.
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