William Thompson
On this date in 1951, Private First Class William Henry Thompson became the first Black to earn the Medal of Honor in the Korean Conflict.
While operating his machine gun during a surprise attack on his platoon, Thompson of Company M, Twenty-fourth Infantry Regiment, was killed in action. This occurred at a critical juncture in the 8th Army's attempt to stop the North Korean Army's southward movement.
Pfc. Thompson's effort near Hainan, Korea, resulted in his becoming the first Black man to receive the Medal of Honor since 1898.
