Carl L. Sitter
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| Carl Leonard Sitter | |
|---|---|
| December 2, 1922 - April 4, 2000 | |
 Medal of Honor recipient |
|
| Place of birth | Syracuse, Missouri |
| Place of death | Richmond, Virginia |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1940-1970 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War II Battle of Chosin Reservoir Battle of Inchon |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Silver Star Legion of Merit Purple Heart (3) |
Carl Leonard Sitter (December 2, 1922–April 4, 2000) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer and Korean War Medal of Honor recipient.
He was born in Syracuse, Missouri, but grew up in Pueblo, Colorado. Upon graduating from Pueblo’s Central High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 22, 1940. He served for eight months in Iceland, then was ordered to the Pacific area. He was serving as a corporal in the Wallis Islands when, on December 12, 1942, he was given a field commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. He later received a regular commission.
Sitter saw combat on Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, and Guam in the Marianas. He was first wounded on February 20, 1944 on Eniwetok, but went back into action almost immediately.
He was wounded again the following July on Guam, during the action in which he earned the Silver Star Medal. The situation was similar, though on a smaller scale, to the one in which he earned the Medal of Honor: he fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire to lead his rifle platoon, and when wounded refused to be evacuated until his mission was accomplished.
Captain Sitter earned the Medal of Honor for valiant leadership during a two-day battle at Hagaru-ri, Korea. In the bitter fighting which came as the Chinese Communists were surrounding U.N. forces near the Chosin Reservoir in November 1950, Capt Sitter was wounded by hand grenades but continued to lead his men until he repulsed a counterattack.
He retired from active duty on 30 June 1970, after rising to be a Colonel in the Marine Corps.
He died in Richmond, Virginia, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor; the Silver Star Medal; the Legion of Merit; the Purple Heart with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards; two Presidential Unit Citations; two Navy Unit Commendations; the Good Conduct Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars; the United Nations Service Medal; the Chungmu Medal with silver star from the Republic of Korea; and two Korean Presidential Unit Citations.
He was also honored as one of seven grand marshals of the 1952 Tournament of Roses Parade. He is one of four soldiers depicted in a sculpture at the Pueblo Medal of Honor Memorial.
[edit] References
- United States Marine Corps History and Museums Division
- Past Grand Marshals of the Tournament of Roses
- homeofheroes.com: Sitter, Carl
Categories: 1922 births | 2000 deaths | American World War II veterans | Burials at Arlington National Cemetery | Korean War veterans | Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients | People from Missouri | United States Marine Corps officers | Recipients of the Legion of Merit | Recipients of the Purple Heart medal
