Nelson Vogel Brittin
Rank: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army
Serial: RA32271499
Unit: Company I, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
Entered service from: New Jersey
Born:
Died:
Awards: Medal of Honor, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Biography
Sergeant First Class Nelson Vogel Brittin of Audubon, New Jersey.
Sergeant First Class Nelson Vogel Brittin was born on October 31, 1921, and grew up at 545 West Graisbury Avenue in Audubon, New Jersey, the son of Wesley and Mrs. Brittin. He was a graduate of Audubon High School. He originally enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, served in World War II in Italy and Europe, and was discharged in 1946. After attending a GI watchmaking school in Philadelphia, he reenlisted in the Army in 1948 and served on occupation duty in Japan before being assigned to Korea.
Sergeant First Class Brittin was a member of Company I, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Before the Korean fighting began in June 1950, he was assigned to teaching the English language to Korean children. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on November 6, 1950, and returned to duty on December 15, 1950.
On March 7, 1951, while leading his squad on an attack near Yonggong-ni, South Korea, Sergeant Brittin volunteered to lead his squad up a hill where heavy enemy fire had pinned down the platoon. Getting fire protection from other members of his squad, he rushed forward into the enemy lines, throwing grenades and knocking out enemy emplacements. An enemy grenade wounded him at the first position, but he refused evacuation and continued to hurl grenades into enemy entrenchments and shoot enemy soldiers. When his weapon jammed during one attack, he killed the enemy with his bayonet and rifle butt. He then ran to the rear of an enemy machine-gun position, tossed a grenade, and then ran to the front, surprising and killing three enemy soldiers with his rifle. Although suffering from additional wounds, he refused evacuation, regrouped his men, and led them to the crest of the hill, where he was killed instantly by automatic weapons fire. By the time he was killed, he had wiped out 20 enemy soldiers.
Sergeant First Class Nelson Vogel Brittin was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was also survived by three brothers—Eugene, 27, an Air Force veteran; Edward, 29, a former Navy aviation cadet; and Wesley Jr., a professor at the University of Colorado—and four married sisters.
Congressional Medal Is Awarded Audubon Hero Killed in Korea Battle
Camden Courier-Post —
Cleared Hill of Red Gunners
Awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Sgt. 1/c Nelson V. Brittin of Audubon, was announced Monday. No date has been set for the presentation ceremony, nor has the official word of the honor been received by Brittin’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Brittin Sr., of 45 West Graisbury avenue, Audubon.
The medal was presented, according to the Army, because of Brittin’s waging a one-man battle against overwhelming enemy forces. According to the accompanying citation, Sergeant Brittin volunteered to lead his squad up a hill last March when heavy enemy fire pinned down the platoon. His medal is the twenty-eighth such medal to be awarded since the Korean war, the Army said. Getting fire protection from other members of his squad, Brittin rushed forward into the enemy lines, throwing grenades and knocking out enemy emplacements. An enemy grenade hit him at the first position, but he refused evacuation and continued to hurl grenades into Red entrenchments and shoot enemy soldiers as they ran from one emplacement to another.
While attacking one emplacement, Brittin’s gun jammed. He leaped into the fox hole, killing the enemy with his bayonet and rifle butt. Spotting the machine-gun that had pinned down his platoon, Brittin rushed to the rear of that position and tossed a grenade. He then ran to the front, surprising and killing three enemy soldiers with his rifle.
Although suffering from additional wounds, Brittin still refused evacuation. He regrouped and led his men to the crest of the hill where he was killed instantly by a machinegun blast.
Courage Is Cited
The citation further states: “The conspicuous courage, constant valor and noble self sacrifice displayed by Sergeant Brittin enable his inspired company to attain their objective, and reflect the highest glory upon himself and the heroic tradition of the military service.”
Sergeant Brittin was serving with the 24th Infantry near Yonggong-Ni, Korea, when killed. Sergeant Brittin originally enlisted in the Army in 1942 and was discharged in 1946. Shortly after his discharge he attended a GI watchmaking school in Philadelphia.
The Audubon man was wounded during War II in Italy and twice in Korea. After serving in Europe during the previous war, he reenlisted in the Army in 1948 and was on occupation duty in Japan before going to Korea.
After his reenlistment, Sergeant Brittin was sent to Carlisle college and then went overseas. Before the Korean fighting began in June, 1950, the Audubon sergeant was assigned to teaching the English language to Korean children.
Past November he was wounded in fighting 20 miles below the border of Manchuria and later suffered injuries in a fall from a truck.
A graduate of Audubon High school, Sergeant Brittin also is survived by three brothers and four married sisters. The former include Eugene, 27, an Air Force veteran who was missing for nine months in Italy after his plane was shot down. He worked for the underground until rescued by a PT boat crew. Another brother is Edward, 29, who served as a Navy aviation cadet during World War II. Wesley Jr. is a professor at the University of Colorado.
4 Killed in Korea Come Back Home To South Jersey
Camden Courier-Post —
The bodies of four South Jersey heroes of the Korean war, including an Audubon Medal of Honor winner, are due to arrive at San Francisco aboard the ship New Zealand, the Defense Department announced. The bodies will be sent with an escort to the point designated by each individual next of kin.
Those from this area among the 631 war dead on the New Zealand are: Sgt. 1/c Nelson V. Brittin, 30, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Brittin, 545 West Graisbury avenue, Audubon; Pfc. Thomas Carter, 19, son of Mrs. Virginia Carter, 725 York road, Magnolia; Cpl. George A. Deacon, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Deacon, 9375 Burlington pike, Palmyra; Pfc. Warren O. Hurdle, son of Mrs. Claudia Hurdle, 1130 South Front street, Camden.
Sergeant Brittin, a veteran of War II, when he fought in Europe, reenlisted in the Army in January, 1948, and was sent to Japan for occupation duty. He was first wounded in Korea in November, 1950. Returned to duty, he was killed last April. The Medal of Honor was awarded Sergeant Brittin posthumously last July 17, for clearing out a Communist machinegun nest on a hill in Korea. He had been wounded but refused medical aid and wiped out the Red gun crew with a grenade. Regrouping his men, he continued the assault on the hill and was killed by a machinegun burst. Sergeant Brittin was a graduate of Audubon High school.