Two Medal Of Honor Recipients, One Small Town
With just a few elementary schools, a middle and high school, two hospitals, a community center, a “busy” main street, and 13,000 residents, South Charleston, West Virginia, is an all-American community like thousands of others across the country. But there's something special about the small town that sets it apart from the rest.
South Charleston is home to two recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, America’s highest award for valor.
Lt. Darwin Kyle
Darwin Keith Kyle, or “Gus,” as his family and friends called him, was born in 1921 in Kentucky and raised in West Virginia. Just weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the US Army and was eventually sent to Europe. He received the Bronze and Silver Stars for heroic actions in France and Germany and in 1945 returned to South Charleston.
In 1950, Kyle, now married and a proud father of two, was once again called upon to serve his country. The North Koreans had attacked across the 38th parallel, and he was soon on his way to a place few had ever been to or heard of: The Republic of Korea.
After landing in Korea with the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division and fighting in numerous enemy engagements, Kyle, promoted to Master Sergeant, found himself at the port of Hungnam on North Korea’s east coast. As part of the Hungnam Evacuation's defensive perimeter, an ever-shrinking line that protected the port from approaching Chinese, he fought off the Chinese for nearly two weeks while military units and refugees were evacuated.
Hungnam Evacuation, North Korea, December 1950 (Photo credit: Department of the Navy).
On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1950, as the last Americans were leaving Hungnam, a huge explosion from a nearby ammo dump ripped through the beach. With the waterfront engulfed in flames and shrapnel ripping into soldiers trying to escape the inferno, Kyle began pulling wounded and dying men from the raging fires and ensuing smaller explosions.
Jumping into a landing craft filled with soldiers, he maneuvered the boat away from the beach just seconds before another violent explosion occurred. According to eyewitness accounts, Kyle’s actions saved the lives of the men trapped in the vessel. MSGT Kyle was awarded the Soldier’s Medal and given a battlefield commission for his heroic actions.
Lt. Darwin Kyle (Photo credit: US Army)
The Bravest Man I Ever Saw
Six weeks later, Kyle, now a second lieutenant, was leading his men up a snow-packed, wind-swept hill near Suwon, South Korea, when his platoon came under withering machine-gun and mortar fire. Lt. Kyle, in total disregard for his own safety, charged into a Chinese gun position and single-handedly killed seven Chinese soldiers, four in hand-to-hand combat, before being mowed down by enemy fire.
Sergeant James Yeomans, one of Kyle’s men, attributed the lieutenant's actions to saving the unit. “He was the bravest man I ever saw,” Yeomans said.
Kyle was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, and his wife, Betty, and two daughters were present to receive his decoration. In an interview for the Charleston Gazette, his mother said her son was “always a great kidder and full of fun . . . he never saw the dark side of a situation.” In 1955, a ten-classroom elementary school in South Charleston was named in his honor, and in the late 1960's, an army base in Korea was renamed "Camp Kyle" in recognition of his heroic actions during the Korean War.
Camp Kyle in the 1960's with Uijongbu in the background. (Photo credit: Steve Dreher- http://brucerichards.com/army/korea%20pics.htm)
Sgt. Herbert Thomas
And South Charlestonians also remember their first Medal of Honor recipient, Herbert J. Thomas.
Born in 1918, Herbert Thomas grew up in South Charleston, graduated from South Charleston High School, and attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, today called Virginia Tech. In 1942, just two months before graduation, the football standout and excellent student left school and enlisted in the Marines. By late 1943, he was in the Pacific serving with 3rd Marine Division.
On November 7, 1943, while leading his squad in an attack against a fortified Japanese position on Bougainville, in the Solomon Islands, a fatal mishap occurred. After making their way through dense, almost impenetrable jungle growth and destroying two enemy machine gun emplacements, Sgt. Thomas and his squad stopped to prepare for a third and final assault on a Japanese machine gun nest.
Marines moving inland to flush out Japanese defenders, Bougainville. (USMC official photo)
As the attack began, Thomas, eager to complete his mission and get his Marines out of harm's way, lobbed a hand grenade towards the enemy. In a terrifying twist of fate, the explosive bounced off a thick overhead vine and landed amongst his men. Thomas dove on the grenade, smothering it with his body. The 25-year-old West Virginian died instantly.
Within minutes, his men had stormed the machine gun nest, killed the remaining Japanese, and secured the area. Sergeant Herbert Thomas was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. He was survived by his father and sister.
Sgt. Herbert Thomas, USMC. (Photo credit: wikipedia)
In March 1945, a US Navy destroyer, the USS Herbert J. Thomas, was named in his honor, and a year later Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston was opened. In 1949, a newly built dormitory at Virginia Tech, Thomas Hall, was named for the Marine sergeant, and more recently, in 2015, a Hall of Honor was built at Thomas Memorial Hospital to pay tribute to Thomas and all US veterans.
USS Herbert J. Thomas, DD-833, commissioned on May 29, 1945. (Photo credit: navsource.org)
Postscript
Although they never fought together or even knew one another during their short lives, Lt. Kyle and Sgt. Thomas, united by the same hometown, are both buried in South Charleston’s Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
They are testaments to the “greatest generation,” and the proud, rich history of small towns across America.
Semper Fi!
Top/Featured photo credit: Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
Great story. I would like to talk to you about 2LT Kyle’s life story and his source of commission. Our organization is also trying to contact 2LT Kyle’s family.
Thanks for reading the story and commenting, Randy.
I too tried to contact the family but was not successful.
Thank you for what you and your organization do to keep the memories of our warriors alive.
Ned, this is DONNA KYLE PITTON, Lt. DARWIN KEITH KYLE’S oldest daughter. I have talked to you when you were getting information about daddy. ..You wrote such a nice story about him and THOMAS….And thank you so much ! My neighbor Bill, that I grew up with and lived 2 houses down from me saw this story and sent it to me ! He loved it and did NOT know about my Dad….We lived just 2 blocks from Thomas Hospital and did NOT know he was a Medal of Honor either. I was even a “Candy-Striper” there when I was 12 yrs. old…Amazing and all these years later we are hearing about both of these HEROES. ! You even got the story for me about how daddy got the “Soldier’s Medal”….THANK YOU ! I have some things I will send to you that you might like that Dad wrote. He loved and honored every man and woman
he served with….Again, many THANKS for the HONOR and RESPECT you show the people that serve our country !!
So glad you and your neighbor came across the blog, Donna. I salute your father for his service and sacrifice in both WW2 and Korea. We love living in Korea and know that it would not be the great country it is today were it not for men like him.
I’d be grateful for any information and pictures you are willing to share. I can update the blog and perhaps also do a Facebook post. You can use the “contact” page on my website if you don’t have my email.
Really appreciate your taking the time to write.
Donna, My Grandfather is James Daniel Yeomans. My Grandpa served with your father Gus, and was there that day he was killed in action. The loss of your Father on that day in Korea affected my grandfather his entire life. Grandpa passed away on 11/30/2017 at 86, and just before his passing he started to open up a little more about that day. Your father was amazing, and a true hero. God bless you.
James- Thanks for reading the blog and connecting with Donna.
I salute your grandfather for his service in Korea. This is a wonderful country today is large part because of the sacrifices of men like him.
Great to see that he lived so long and appreciate your sharing a bit of his story.
Another outstanding tribute Ned.
I appreciate that, Travis. The fact that this small town has two MOH recipients is remarkable to me, and I’m glad for the chance to share the story.