Clifford C. Sims Medal of Honor Heroism in Korean War

Feb 06 , 2026

Clifford C. Sims Medal of Honor Heroism in Korean War

Blood pouring, vision narrowing. The roar of enemy fire crackled like hell’s own furnace. Clifford C. Sims, wounded deep, weighed every breath against the pounding chaos. The line was breaking. Unit falling apart. No orders but one: move forward. And he did.

Background & Faith

Clifford C. Sims wasn’t forged in the battlefields alone. Born in Cherokee County, Alabama, his roots sunk deep into that red clay soil—a place drenched in hard work and quiet resolve. Enlisted in October 1945, Sims carried with him a simple creed, duty before self, molded by the stoic faith of his upbringing.

His Lutheran faith was a solemn compass in the storm of combat. Scriptures like Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”—were more than words. They were armor.

The Battle That Defined Him

March 24, 1951. The hills near Yangju, Korea, a cold bite in the spring air, the rubble-strewn earth the graveyard of dead dreams.

Sims was a corporal in Company E, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Their OBJ was overrun by enemy forces. The line faltered under a brutal assault.

He stood while chaos tore through the ranks.

Despite a bullet wound in the face, Sims led a fierce countercharge uphill against relentless enemy fire. His left arm shattered but unused, he gripped his rifle with the right, pulling his men along through the carnage.

The Medal of Honor citation sums it in raw terms:

“Driven by utter disregard for his own personal safety, Corporal Sims launched a one-man attack that disrupted the enemy’s advance, enabling his company to reorganize.” [^1]

The enemy hit him again—wounds but surrender? Never.

Each step was agony, each shout a prayer. His courage galvanized the survivors, turning despair into action. Sims forced the attackers back, sealing a deadly breach.

Recognition

For his unwavering valor, Clifford C. Sims was awarded the Medal of Honor on July 5, 1951.

General Matthew Ridgway, then commanding U.S. forces in Korea, personally presented the medal, calling Sims’ actions “a blueprint in battlefield heroism.” Fellow soldiers remembered his grit without glamor:

“He didn’t want to die. Nobody does. But he chose to face death for us all.” — Sergeant James C. Wheeler, 24th Infantry Division[^2]

Sims' citation goes beyond mere bravery. It immortalizes self-sacrifice—the kind that can’t be taught, only lived.

Legacy & Lessons

Clifford C. Sims bled for every ounce of ground that day, a raw testament to sacrifice etched in Korean soil. His story is one of wounds and redemption, of a man shattered yet unbroken.

Combat vets carry this weight: the cost of courage is blood—our own or others’. Sims teaches us that true strength is born when pain doesn’t paralyze but propels.

“Greater love hath no man than this,” and Sims lived this truth in flesh and steel.

His legacy is not medals or stories told; it is the mantle passed to every warrior who still stands when the battle screams to fall. It is a call to remember—hearts steeled, scars unhidden, faith unyielding.

“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

That is the promise falling soldiers hold. That is the honor Clifford C. Sims earned—for us all.

[^1]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean War [^2]: Robert F. Futrell, The United States Air Force in Korea, 1950-1953