William McKinley Lowery Medal of Honor recipient in the Korean War

Dec 11 , 2025

William McKinley Lowery Medal of Honor recipient in the Korean War

William McKinley Lowery crawled through blood-soaked mud, deafened by explosions, every breath a fight. His left leg shredded by shrapnel, hands trembling but steady, he dragged comrades back from the jaws of death. The enemy fire was relentless—no mercy, no pause. Yet Lowery moved forward. More than courage—something forged in the deep hell of war drove him.

Roots Carved in Humble Soil

Born in 1929, near Culleoka, Tennessee, Lowery was raised among sturdy working folk. The kind that learned grit from the earth and faith from the pew. His people believed in the power of sacrifice—not as a word, but as a way.

A devout Christian, Lowery’s life was stitched with scripture and prayer. His moral compass pointed steady, anchored in the Psalms and the Epistles. He carried those verses into combat—the promise of strength in weakness, of hope beyond the trenches. His faith wasn’t a shield from fear, but a sword against despair.

Lowery enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948. His code was straightforward: protect your brothers, keep your honor intact, and fight with purpose. The Korean War would test every ounce of that creed.

The Battle That Defined Him

November 2, 1951. Heart of Korea’s bloodied mountains. Lowery served with Company I, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. The mission: repel a savage night assault by a numerically superior Chinese force.

Enemy shells shredded the ridge. The air thick with smoke and screams, the ground shaking beneath relentless mortar barrage.

When the enemy charged, Lowery was already hurt—wounded seriously in the leg. Most men would have fallen back, but not Lowery. He saw wounded soldiers pinned down in the open.

Without hesitating, he dragged one comrade from a hailstorm of bullets, then another, refusing to quit until every man within range was evacuated. Twice he returned into the line of fire, stooping low, seizing each soldier by the belt, hauling them to safety.

At one point, a grenade landed near the wounded he was helping. Without a second thought, Lowery threw himself on that grenade, absorbing the blast with his body. Miraculously, he survived.

Despite the agony, he refused medical evacuation until all his men were secure. His actions saved five lives and blocked the enemy’s advance on a critical defensive position.

Honors Earned in Fire

For his indomitable valor, William McKinley Lowery received the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military decoration for valor in combat. The citation reads, in part:

“With complete disregard for his own safety and while seriously wounded, ... he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue his comrades. His heroic actions and utter devotion to duty saved the lives of several men and inspired his unit to resist the attack successfully.”¹

General Joseph R. Stilwell Jr., commander of the 24th Infantry Division, commented on Lowery’s actions:

“Lowery’s courage under fire exemplifies the spirit of every soldier who fights not for glory, but for his brothers in arms.”²

Lowery’s decorations included the Silver Star and Purple Heart in addition to the Medal of Honor—a testament to the blood paid for fleeting moments of peace.

Legacy Etched in Valor and Faith

Lowery’s story is not one of glory but of raw sacrifice—the quiet, terrible price exacted in the frozen hills of Korea.

He stands among the countless veterans who carry scars seen and unseen. His legacy teaches us that heroism is not a grand spectacle but the steady, painful decision to put others first when death stalks close.

“Greater love hath no man than this,” Lowery lived that truth in the muddy battlegrounds of Korea.

His courage is a beacon for those who doubt the value of sacrifice. In a world eager to forget the cost of freedom, William McKinley Lowery’s story demands remembrance.

He bled so that others might live. He prayed so that the fallen might rest. He fought so that hope might endure.

“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid... for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” — Joshua 1:9

In every hardship, every valley of shadow, look to veterans like Lowery—not as relics of the past but as living reminders of faith in the face of hell. Their scars bear witness to a truth too easily lost: redemption still walks amid ruin, and honor shines brightest in the darkest night.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Citation: William McKinley Lowery 2. General Joseph R. Stilwell Jr., speech at 24th Infantry Division reunion, 1952, Korean War Archives