1/Lt Richard T. Smock, USA
Class of 1950
A combat infantryman in WW11, he attended The Citadel for 1 year after the war. He re-enlisted in the US Army soon after resigning as a cadet. Attended OCS earning a commission, then assigned to parachute jump school. Volunteered for covert combat duty in Korea and lead an anti-communist North Korean counter-insurgency unit operating behind enemy lines. Promoted to command the US 31st Infantry the unit was ambushed by an overwhelming number of Chinese forces near Cholly-Dong, North Korea on 6 Jun 1951. He sacrificed his own life to save the lives of the entire regiment by remaining as rear-guard to cover their withdrawal from the attack receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously, for extraordinary heroism.