PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Robert E. Simanek
rdfs:comment
  • Simanek was born on April 26, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from high school there in 1948 and worked for the Ford Motor Company and General Motors before he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps on August 13, 1951. Simanek was serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, when the action occurred on August 18, 1952. His patrol had gone well forward of friendly lines to occupy an outpost when the Marines ran into a trap. He threw himself on an enemy grenade to save his comrades, and was severely wounded in the legs.
owl:sameAs
Unit
  • 2
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Number
  • 0
  • 2
serviceyears
  • 1951
Birth Date
  • 1930-04-26
Branch
Name
  • Robert Ernest Simanek
Type
  • award-star
  • service-star
Caption
  • Robert E. Simanek, Medal of Honor recipient
Width
  • 106
Ribbon
  • Medal of Honor ribbon.svg
  • National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
  • Purple Heart BAR.svg
  • KSMRib.svg
  • United Nations Service Medal for Korea ribbon.png
placeofburial label
  • Place of burial
Birth Place
  • Detroit, Michigan
Awards
Rank
Allegiance
  • United States
Battles
Alt
  • A light blue ribbon with five white five pointed stars
abstract
  • Simanek was born on April 26, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from high school there in 1948 and worked for the Ford Motor Company and General Motors before he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps on August 13, 1951. Completing recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in October 1951, he was ordered to Camp Pendleton, California, the following month. After further training at Camp Pendleton, he sailed for Korea in April 1952, joining Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines on May 6, 1952. He had earned two battle stars by the time of his Medal of Honor action. Simanek was serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, when the action occurred on August 18, 1952. His patrol had gone well forward of friendly lines to occupy an outpost when the Marines ran into a trap. He threw himself on an enemy grenade to save his comrades, and was severely wounded in the legs. Simanek received medical treatment aboard the hospital ship USS Haven and in Japan before being returned to the United States in September 1952. He then was hospitalized at Mare Island, California, and at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, until he was placed on the temporary disability retired list, March 1, 1953. The Medal of Honor was presented to him by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a White House ceremony on October 27, 1953. He was the 36th Marine to receive the medal in the Korean War. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he was also awarded the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.