On July 20, 1950, elements of the 24th ID were forced to withdraw after fighting a delaying action against two divisions of the NKPA at Taejon (100 miles south of Seoul).  24ID Commander, Major General William Dean directed the rear guard action and personally took part in fighting, disabling one enemy tank himself.  During their withdrawal, he and a small group encountered an enemy roadblock and were forced to move on foot at night.  While gathering water for and injured Soldier, Dean fell down a ravine, broke his shoulder, gashed his head, and was knocked unconscious. Lost to his group, Dean wandered the South Korean mountains alone for 36 days. He was eventually betrayed by locals and turned over to the NKPA. He was believed to have been killed after his disappearance, and his death was reported widely in the U.S. press.  He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Taejon.  Dean’s actual fate was not realized until October 1950.

MG Dean was held as as a POW by the North Koreans for three years, until his exchange on September 4, 1953.  He was the highest ranking U.S. POW during the Korean War. His first words to newsmen upon his release were 'Get it out of your heads that I'm a hero. I'm not. I'm just a dog-faced soldier.' Dean received a heroe’s welcome upon his return home and received his MOH. He retired in 1955 and during the ceremony was given the distinction of being only the second officer of flag rank to receive the Combat Infantryman’s Badge—awarded only to infantrymen who have engaged the enemy in close combat.  He had done so as a general in both WWII and Korea. The “fighting general” died August 24, 1981 at the age of 82.

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Golden Gate National Cemetery

On July 20, 1950, elements of the 24th ID were forced to withdraw after fighting a delaying action against two divisions of the NKPA at Taejon (100 miles south of Seoul).  24ID Commander, Major General William Dean directed the rear guard action and personally took part in fighting, disabling one enemy tank himself.  During their withdrawal, he and a small group encountered an enemy roadblock and were forced to move on foot at night.  While gathering water for and injured Soldier, Dean fell down a ravine, broke his shoulder, gashed his head, and was knocked unconscious. Lost to his group, Dean wandered the South Korean mountains alone for 36 days. He was eventually betrayed by locals and turned over to the NKPA. He was believed to have been killed after his disappearance, and his death was reported widely in the U.S. press.  He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Taejon.  Dean’s actual fate was not realized until October 1950.

MG Dean was held as as a POW by the North Koreans for three years, until his exchange on September 4, 1953.  He was the highest ranking U.S. POW during the Korean War. His first words to newsmen upon his release were 'Get it out of your heads that I'm a hero. I'm not. I'm just a dog-faced soldier.' Dean received a heroe’s welcome upon his return home and received his MOH. He retired in 1955 and during the ceremony was given the distinction of being only the second officer of flag rank to receive the Combat Infantryman’s Badge—awarded only to infantrymen who have engaged the enemy in close combat.  He had done so as a general in both WWII and Korea. The “fighting general” died August 24, 1981 at the age of 82.

WILLIAM F DEAN

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