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MAJ John Moore (SaberAlpha 10)
to remember
Tedford, Robert Austin, M/Sgt.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Los Angeles
Casualty Date Aug 12, 1950
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Korea, South
Conflict Korean War/UN Defensive (1950)/Battle of Pusan Perimeter
Location of Interment Inglewood Park Cemetery - Inglewood, California
MSGT Tedford, Robert A. Army
Distinguished Service Cross
Master Sergeant Robert A. Tedford
U.S. Army
25th Recon Company
Date of Action: August 12, 1950
Citation:
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Master Sergeant Robert A. Tedford (RA 06573405), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a tank commander with the 25th Reconnaisssance Company, 25th Infantry Division. Master Sergeant Tedford distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Pongon-ni, Korea, on 12 August 1950. Master Sergeant Tedford led his tank and one other tank into Pongon-ni with the mission of dislodging the enemy and supporting the unit's supply route. Realizing he was greatly outnumbered upon entering the town, he exposed himself in his turrent to obtain better visibility in directing his driver and gunner. Sergeant Tedford refused to close the hatch on his tank and remained exposed while employing the .50 caliber machine-gun, and delivered a deadly hail of fire into the ranks of the enemy. With utter disregard for his personal safety, he continued to fire his weapon until he was killed. The accuracy of Sergeant Tedford's fire accounted for approximately fifty enemy dead, and his actions contributed materially to reopening the main supply route.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 232
(April 23, 1951)
Home Town: Los Angeles
Comments/Citation:
Robert A. Tedford attended ROTC at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. He enlisted in the Army around 1938 eventualy ending up in 1st Armored Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky on 15 July, 1940. They participated in maneuvers in September, 1941 and boarded the Queen Mary at the New York Port of embarkation, Brooklyn Army Terminal on May 11, 1942. Five days later the soldiers of the Division landed in Northern Ireland. On October 29, 1942 the division moved to England to depart for North Africa. Their 1st contact with the enemy was on November 8, 1942. Sgt. Tedford, fought and served until he was captured by the Germans in North Africa (Tunisia). He was taken prisoner reportedly on 15 February 1943 and held captive until June of 1945. He is listed as being held captive at Stalag 3B Furstenberg Brandenburg, Prussia. He returned to California where he re-enlisted on October 20, 1945 at Camp Roberts. He enlisted for the Hawaiian Department. His status during this three months (from June 1945 - October 1945) was National Guard in Federal Service. He was born in Tulsa, OK about 1918 and was relocated to Los Angeles, CA some two years later.
