Lewis W. Zwarka Distinguished Service Cross citation
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS
HAS AWARDED
THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
TO
SERGEANT LEWIS WILLIAM ZWARKA, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
FOR
EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Lewis William Zwarka (MCSN: 253626), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with an Anti-Tank Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Provisional Marine Brigade (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yongsan, Korea, on 3 September 1950. On that date Sergeant Zwarka was serving with a 75-millimeter recoilless rifle platoon attached to the Second Battalion. At approximately 1300 hours on that date, while the platoon was advancing along the road near Yongsan, an enemy battery of antitank guns, mortars, and machine-guns were observed firing on friendly tanks. The first section of the rifle platoon was placed in action against this concentration, and intense counter-battery fire from the enemy ensued. When several casualties were inflicted, disabling one of the recoilless rifles, Sergeant Zwarka, unhesitatingly and fearlessly made repeated trips through unremitting enemy fire to assist in evacuating the wounded. Then seeing another 75-mm. rifle lying idle as a result of casualties among the crew, and realizing the importance of the weapon to his fellow marines, Sergeant Zwarka, with utter disregard for his life, made his way through concentrated enemy fire to recover the rifle. With the assistance of the remainder of the gun crew, he moved it to an alternate position covering a road approach, and in so doing received grave wounds which later cost him his life. His prompt action enabled establishment of a defensive emplacement from which effective fire could be delivered on the enemy.
Born: 14 December 1917… Home of Record: Sugar Creek, Mo…. Also served during World War II… Died of wounds three days later on 6 September 1950… Interred at Jefferson City National Cemetery, Jefferson City, Mo.