{"product_id":"united-states-a-signed-photograph-of-congressional-medal-of-honor-recipient-1st-marine-division-usmc-w8674","title":"United States. A Signed Photograph of Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, 1st Marine Division, USMC","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn black and white, gloss finish, signed \"Col Carl L Sitter\" vertically to the right of his head, measuring 90 mm (w) x 87 mm (h), extremely fine. Accompanied by a copy of his citation, signed by him \"Col Carl L Sitter \/ Medal of Honor\" at the upper left, along with his 88 mm (w) x 51 mm (h) Congressional Medal of Honor Society business card inscribed \"Colonel Carl L. Sitter, U.S.M.C. Ret. Secretary\/Treasurer\".\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFootnote: Carl Leonard Sitter was born on December 2, 1922 in Syracuse, Morgan County, Missouri and made his home in Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado. He graduated from Central High School, Class of 1940, in Pueblo, where Army Private William Crawford, who would go on to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor in the Second World War, had graduated four years earlier. Sitter enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 22, 1940. He served for eight months in Iceland, then was ordered to the Pacific area. He was serving as a Corporal in the Wallis Islands when, on December 12, 1942, he was given a field commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve. Sitter saw combat on Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands, and Guam in the Marianas. He was first wounded on February 20, 1944, on Eniwetok, but went back into action almost immediately. He was wounded again the following July on Guam, during the action in which he earned the Silver Star. He exposed himself to enemy fire to lead his rifle platoon, and when wounded refused to be evacuated until his mission was accomplished. His citation for the Silver Star states: \"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Carl Leonard Sitter (MCSN: 0-16377), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as platoon leader of a rifle platoon on Guam, Marianas Islands, during the period 21 July to 28 July 1944. Lieutenant Sitter, leading his platoon into combat under the most adverse conditions, constantly subjected himself to intense enemy rifle, machine gun, and mortar fire, without regard for his personal safety, so that he could personally direct the fire and tactical disposition of his troops. While so leading his troops, Lieutenant Sitter was wounded in the right leg. In spite of his severe and painful wound, he refused to be evacuated, stayed with his troops, and continued to press forward the attack with skill and vigor. Three days later when his platoon was again assaulting an enemy position against fierce and desperate resistance, Lieutenant Sitter was so seriously wounded in his left arm that it necessitated his immediate evacuation. His skill, initiative, and determination contributed materially to the successful accomplishment of his battalion's mission. His courageous leadership was an inspiration to all those serving with him and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.\" Sitter was serving as Commanding Officer in the rank of Captain with Company G, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), United States Marine Corps in a two-day battle at Hagaru-ri, Korea during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, on November 29-30, 1950 in the Korean War, when he was wounded by hand grenades, but continued to lead his men until he repulsed a counterattack. For his actions that day, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor from the War Department. His citation states: \"The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain Carl Leonard Sitter (MCSN: 0-16377), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 29 and 30 November 1950, as Commanding Officer of Company G, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces at Hagaru-ri near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Ordered to break through enemy-infested territory to reinforce his battalion the morning of 29 November, Captain Sitter continuously exposed himself to enemy fire as he led his company forward and, despite 25 percent casualties suffered in the furious action, succeeded in driving through to his objective. Assuming the responsibility of attempting to seize and occupy a strategic area occupied by a hostile force of regiment strength deeply entrenched on a snow-covered hill commanding the entire valley southeast of the town, as well as the line of march of friendly troops withdrawing to the south, he reorganized his depleted units the following morning and boldly led them up the steep, frozen hillside under blistering fire, encouraging and redeploying his troops as casualties occurred and directing forward platoons as they continued the drive to the top of the ridge. During the night when a vastly outnumbering enemy launched a sudden, vicious counterattack, setting the hill ablaze with mortar, machine gun, and automatic-weapons fire and taking a heavy toll in troops, Captain Sitter visited each foxhole and gun position, coolly deploying and integrating reinforcing units consisting of service personnel unfamiliar with infantry tactics into a coordinated combat team and instilling in every man the will and determination to hold his position at all costs. With the enemy penetrating his lines in repeated counterattacks which often required hand-to-hand combat, and, on one occasion infiltrating to the command post with hand grenades, he fought gallantly with his men in repulsing and killing the fanatic attackers in each encounter. Painfully wounded in the face, arms, and chest by bursting grenades, he staunchly refused to be evacuated and continued to fight on until a successful defense of the area was assured with a loss to the enemy of more than 50 percent dead, wounded, and captured. His valiant leadership, superb tactics, and great personal valor throughout 36 hours of bitter combat reflect the highest credit upon Captain Sitter and the United States Naval Service.\" Sitter would go on to achieve the rank of Colonel in the United States Marine Corps and retired from active duty on June 30, 1970. In addition to the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Silver Star, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, two Presidential Unit Citations, two Navy Unit Commendations, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal for Korea, the Republic of Korea Chungmu Medal with silver star, and two Korean Presidential Unit Citations. Sitter was also a member of Oasis of Mara Masonic Lodge No 735 in Twentynine Palms, California. Carl Leonard Sitter died on April 4, 2000 in Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, at the age of 77 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, Plot: 7A-57-A. When Sitter passed away, he was in his last semester of study to receive a Masters Degree to become a minister. He was posthumously graduated in abstentia.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"eMedals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49931064934677,"sku":"W8674","price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/9105\/2053\/files\/OiFsHWEonOFqW2RqA082okWv55h8lAvRA10dj7N6.jpg?v=1780066717","url":"https:\/\/www.emedals.com\/products\/united-states-a-signed-photograph-of-congressional-medal-of-honor-recipient-1st-marine-division-usmc-w8674","provider":"eMedals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}