Jan 17 , 2026

Clifford C. Sims' Heroism at Unsan Earned the Medal of Honor

Clifford C. Sims stood amid a shield of smoke and blood, his hands shredded, chest burning with pain, yet his voice cut through chaos like a blade: “Follow me!”

No hesitation. No surrender. Just raw grit and iron will.

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Background & Faith

Born in Magnolia, Arkansas, Clifford Sims carried the weight of a humble rural upbringing. Raised in a tight-knit family where faith was not a Sunday gesture but daily armor, his sense of duty hardened early.

A devout Christian, Sims lived by Proverbs 21:31: “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” That conviction anchored him before he ever donned the uniform.

Before Korea, he worked the land, learned the value of sweat and sacrifice. It was there that he developed the grit and quiet courage that would become legend. A soldier shaped by farm soil and scripture—ready for a war that would demand everything.

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The Battle That Defined Him

November 29, 1950. The bitter cold of North Korea bit deep. Sims, a corporal in Company A, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, faced an enemy surprise attack near Unsan. The Chinese People's Volunteer Army pressed relentlessly, outnumbering American forces.

Despite multiple wounds—shrapnel tearing through flesh, blood draining fast—Sims refused to fall back. Over and over, he rallied his men against overwhelming odds.

He charged alone through enemy fire to recover a wounded comrade. Then another. Blood smeared his uniform, face gaunt with pain and determination. His actions stopped enemy advances that threatened to split the line.

At one point, a medic tried to pull him back. Sims shoved the medic aside. “No. They need me up front.”

When ammunition ran dangerously low, he led a bayonet charge. The enemy faltered. His voice and leadership became the spark that turned despair into defiance.

His Medal of Honor citation states:

“Despite his wounds, he refused evacuation and continued to lead his men, inspiring all with his intrepid courage and unyielding resolve.”[1]

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Recognition

For his extraordinary gallantry, Clifford C. Sims received the Medal of Honor on August 2, 1951, presented by President Harry S. Truman.

It wasn’t just a medal. It was a testament to what one man can do when the stakes are nothing less than life and death, the bond of brotherhood, and the cost of freedom.

Sims’s commander later said, “He didn’t think about himself... only the men beside him. That’s the mark of a leader forged in fire.”[2]

The wounds never fully healed. But neither did his spirit. Sims became a symbol—not of glory, but of sacrificial service, what it means to stand in the gap.

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Legacy & Lessons

Clifford Sims’s story is carved deep into the rugged hills of Korea and the hearts of those who fight.

War strips away illusions and exposes raw truth. Sims showed that courage is not the absence of fear but action despite it. That leadership is not authority but service unto others.

His scars are more than flesh wounds—they are the imprint of faith lived out under fire.

In a world desperate for heroes, remember this: Heroes bleed. Heroes falter. But heroes keep moving forward.

The Good Book reminds us,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Joshua 1:9

Clifford C. Sims stood with God in the darkest hours. That’s something no enemy can take away.

The price was high. But the legacy? Eternal.

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Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War" [2] 25th Infantry Division History, “True Stories of Valor,” 1951

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