Clifford C. Sims Medal of Honor Charge at Unsan in the Korean War

Dec 30 , 2025

Clifford C. Sims Medal of Honor Charge at Unsan in the Korean War

Clifford C. Sims wasn’t just wounded on that frozen ridge in Korea—he was broken, torn apart in body and spirit. Still, he stood. Blood dripping from shattered flesh, he charged the enemy lines. The roar of bullets couldn’t silence his defiance.

The Battle That Defined Him

November 29, 1950, the hills around Unsan, Korea. Cold bitter enough to freeze your breath mid-air and slow every heartbeat to a crawl. Sims was a corporal with Company H, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. They’d been stalled by a relentless enemy—waves of Chinese forces striking with savage ferocity.

When his squad’s advance faltered under fire, Sims didn’t hesitate. A grenade blast tore into his arm, shattering bone and shreds of muscle. Pain like fire slashed through him, yet he hobbled forward, firing his rifle with one hand, rallying his men.

He led a charge uphill—wounded, exhausted, utterly relentless. Sims cleared the enemy positions, scattering the assault force and saving his platoon from annihilation. Every inch forward was a war with agony, but turning back wasn’t an option. Not then, not ever.

Roots Forged in Faith and Discipline

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Clifford’s childhood was framed by hard work and church pews. His mother’s quiet prayers and lessons in grit carved into him a code. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Faith wasn’t just words; it was armor.

Sims enlisted in the Army after high school. The boy grew into a soldier shaped by discipline and humble service. His commanding officers remembered a man who didn’t crave glory but sought to carry the burden alongside his brothers-in-arms.

A Hero’s Hellfire

Enemy fire was relentless. The hill was a death trap cloaked in icy wind and smoke. Sims took shrapnel wounds but kept moving forward—dragging two fallen men to safety amid exploding grenades.

His Medal of Honor citation recounts:

“Despite severe wounds, Sims repeatedly charged hostile positions. His fearless leadership and indomitable courage inspired his comrades under fire. His actions disrupted the enemy assault and saved many lives.”

Corporal Sims sanitized doubt and fear with his own bloodied hands. Every rally cry was a defiance. The enemy’s physics meant nothing against his will.

Recognition Worn With Quiet Honor

Clifford C. Sims was awarded the Medal of Honor on August 2, 1951. The ceremony was tight, no fanfare for a man who didn’t seek it.

Colonel William W. Winn, commander of Sims’s battalion, said in a 1951 report:

“Sims exemplified the highest standards of soldierly valor and self-sacrifice. His actions turned the tide against overwhelming odds.”

Fellow soldiers called him a “rock,” one who carried their burdens when strength failed.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Spirit

Sims’s story is not just a history lesson or an abstract tale of valor. It is a raw testament—a reminder that courage isn’t the absence of fear or pain. It’s pushing forward through them.

In the silence that follows combat, scars remind a man of what was lost, but also of what was saved. Sims saved lives at the cost of his own body’s betrayal. Yet, his spirit held firm, anchored by faith and brotherhood.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

This is the legacy of Clifford C. Sims—a fallen warrior who fought not for glory, but for the men beside him, and for something greater than himself.

His charge was more than a battle tactic; it was a declaration that blood and sacrifice carve pathways to lasting peace.

The hill still holds his echo—the grit, the pain, the relentless fight of a warrior who refused to fall.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Clifford C. Sims Citation 3. Birmingham News Archives, Coverage of Clifford C. Sims Medal of Honor Ceremony, 1951