Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Corporal Baldonado was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on November 25, 1950. His remains were not recovered. HILL 171. The 2d platoon of Company B was occupying positions on Hill 171 near Kang-dong when the enemy launched a strong attack in an effort to seize the hill. His platoon had expended most of its ammunition in repelling the enemy attack, and the platoon leader decided to commit his third squad, with its supply of ammunition, in the defensive action. Corporal Baldonado, machine-gunner of the third squad, placed his weapon in an exposed position and delivered a withering stream of fire on the advancing enemy, causing them to fall back in disorder. His position was stormed and he was killed. Note: 4-07-2012: brother Charles indicated that unit records showed Joe being buried at Kang-Dong on 26 November, 1950 in the field of action in his parachute. The family was a hardworking farm labor family who worked the western states. They are of Mexican and Navaho/German extraction. The family name from the Navaho Nation was Wilson, changed to Baldonado by Joe's grandfather. Joe may have been born in Colorado but at the time of his enlistment, lived in Gilroy, California. Maps show usage Kang-dong rather than Kang-deng. His awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Corporal Baldonado was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 187th Airborne Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on November 25, 1950. His remains were not recovered. HILL 171. The 2d platoon of Company B was occupying positions on Hill 171 near Kang-dong when the enemy launched a strong attack in an effort to seize the hill. His platoon had expended most of its ammunition in repelling the enemy attack, and the platoon leader decided to commit his third squad, with its supply of ammunition, in the defensive action. Corporal Baldonado, machine-gunner of the third squad, placed his weapon in an exposed position and delivered a withering stream of fire on the advancing enemy, causing them to fall back in disorder. His position was stormed and he was killed. Note: 4-07-2012: brother Charles indicated that unit records showed Joe being buried at Kang-Dong on 26 November, 1950 in the field of action in his parachute. The family was a hardworking farm labor family who worked the western states. They are of Mexican and Navaho/German extraction. The family name from the Navaho Nation was Wilson, changed to Baldonado by Joe's grandfather. Joe may have been born in Colorado but at the time of his enlistment, lived in Gilroy, California. Maps show usage Kang-dong rather than Kang-deng. His awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Bio by: GraveHunter
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
