C I T A T I O N

By direction of the President
The Distinguished Service Cross
is presented to

Captain Willard J. Hardy United States Army

Captain WILLARD J. HARDY, 0887996, Infantry, United States Army. Captain HARDY, commanding officer of an infantry company, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Sat'ae-ri Korea. On the night of 3 November 1952, a hostile force of estimated battalion strength attacked the defensive positions occupied by Captain HARDY's company. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain HARDY moved from platoon to platoon through intense fire to direct the efforts of his men. When enemy troops penetrated the friendly defense and gained possession of high ground dominating the area, he began a one-man charge up the slope, firing his carbine and throwing grenades, supported only by small-arms fire from his radio operator.With aggressive determination, Captain HARDY continued to advance against concentrated fire until he was hurled down the hill by an exploding grenade. Wounded and dazed,and having lost his helmet and carbine, he moved to the remnants of two friendly platoons, obtained another weapon and helmet, organized an assault force, and led it forward in a counterattack. Inspired by his courageous example, the small party of friendly infantrymen succeeded early the following morning in driving the foe from the hill and reestablished the defense line. The extraordinay heroism exhibited by Captain HARDY throughout this action reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.

Captain HARDY was the Company Commander of Company " C ", 160th Infantry Regiment. The Order of Battle lists the following ENEMY casualties for the above described action:

From that time on Charlie Company was referred to as " Chop-em Up Charlie " Company.

Captain HARDY originally enlisted in the Army in 1940. Shortly after D-Day he received a battlefield commission as a 2nd Lt. One month after being commissioned he was made Company Commander of a rifle company. He remained in the Army following WWII and the Korean War. He later served in Viet Nam and was again awarded The Combat Infantryman Badge ( WWII - Korea - Viet Nam ). He retired as a Major.

Major Hardy died on January 7th, 2000. Those of us who served with him in Charlie Company are all saddened by his death. His outstanding leadership and his experience in combat kept a lot of us alive.