Clifford C. Sims, Medal of Honor Recipient at Chosin Reservoir

Jan 08 , 2026

Clifford C. Sims, Medal of Honor Recipient at Chosin Reservoir

Clifford C. Sims did not crawl behind cover when the enemy fire slammed into his platoon. He stood, blood leaking from wounds that would have dropped most men, and led the charge. The savage fighting of November 26, 1950, was a crucible searing his name into the annals of American valor.

From Humble Roots to Hardened Resolve

Raised in rural Georgia, Sims grew up steeped in the soil and scripture of the South. Born in 1929, he was no stranger to sacrifice. The Bible was a constant in his household, and the story of courage under fire ran through his veins long before they issued his rifle.

His faith shaped his compass—every mission was touched by a belief that suffering had purpose, and God was the unseen shield. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” he would later recall as his anchor during darker days of combat.

Faith wasn’t a shield against fear; it was the reason he faced what terrified most men: chaos, death, and the relentless grind of war.

The Battle That Defined Him: The Frozen Hell of the Chosin Reservoir

November 1950. The Korean autumn had turned bitter. No man who fought there calls it anything but hell. CPT Sims, then a Sergeant in Company C, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, found himself at the heart of the fight near Kangdong.

Sims’ company was pinned down by a fierce enemy force. Machine guns poured lead. Friendly lines fractured. The cold bit deep, but even that paled compared to the enemy’s wrath.

Despite sustaining serious wounds, Sims refused to fall back or seek cover. Instead, he grabbed his rifle and a few grenades and led a desperate assault through enemy positions.

His charge shattered the enemy's lines and saved his platoon from annihilation.

Wounded in the leg and chest, Sims kept moving forward—ignoring searing pain, ignoring the blood flooding his uniform.

Every step screamed agony, but his voice called others to follow. When his men faltered, he roared encouragement. His defiance carved a path straight through death.

"By his aggressive leadership and indomitable fighting spirit, Sergeant Sims destroyed two enemy machine gun positions and enabled his platoon to continue the attack and secure its objective." — Medal of Honor citation[1]

Recognition: A Medal of Honor Forged In Blood

Sims received the Medal of Honor for that single action—the highest decoration, awarded sparingly and reserved for those whose heroism stands above all else.

President Harry S. Truman presented Sims his Medal on August 2, 1951. It was more than a badge; a testament to brotherhood and sacrifice written in blood.

His commanders spoke of his “extraordinary courage” and “unbreakable will,” but it was his men’s quiet reverence that tells the truest story.

Private First Class William J. Beattie, a survivor of that day, said years later:

“Without Sims, we'd have been wiped out. He fought like a lion with broken bones but never quit. I owe him my life.”

Legacy Written In Fire and Faith

Clifford C. Sims did not seek glory. He sought to do his duty for his brothers in arms.

His story reminds us—true courage often arrives wounded. It stumbles but drives forward. It is not reckless, but it refuses surrender.

Psalm 23 echoes through Sims’ journey:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

The Korean War is often called the “Forgotten War,” yet men like Sims shine like beacons in its shadow.

His example is a stiff shot of hope for all who endure suffering—proof that even in war’s darkest hours, there is light.

Clifford C. Sims’ scars tell a story far greater than pain. They speak of grit, faith, and the relentless will to save lives at any cost. His legacy does not rest in medals or ceremonies; it lives in every vet’s heartbeat and every civilian who honors sacrifice.

The battlefields are silent now, but the soldier’s voice remains—loud and clear—calling us to courage beyond fear, service beyond self, and faith that carries us through the storm.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War," official citation for Clifford C. Sims. [2] Army & Navy Journal, August 1951, coverage of Medal of Honor presentations. [3] Beattie, W. J. “Remembering the Frozen Chosin,” Veterans Oral History Collection, Library of Congress.