Program

Hometown Heritage®

Subject

People, Site

Location

228 Curtin St, Osceola Mills, PA 16666, USA

Lat/Long

40.851758429639, -78.268912170938

Grant Recipient

Clearfield County Historical Society

Henry W. Pidgeon was born on February 13, 1921, in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1939 and served in World War II from 1941 to 1945. Remaining in the service after the war, he was assigned to multiple infantry regiments and was still on active duty at the outbreak of the Korean War. During the Korean War, Pidgeon was stationed in Korea multiple times and engaged in combat, earning four bronze Korea Service stars and two silver Combat Infantry Badge stars.

Pidgeon’s service included the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. In April 1953, while serving as the 1st Sergeant for Company F, 31st Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, he and members of Fox Company were sent to reinforce the understaffed Company E at a defensive fortification established on the hill in 1951. On April 16, a tactical patrol was launched into the valley. Pidgeon was assigned to lead and take responsibility for the five-man assault unit, which was accompanied by a second five-man unit.

During the patrol, Pidgeon’s assault unit became separated from the supporting unit. They were surrounded by approximately fifty Chinese soldiers and initiated combat by throwing grenades. Cut off from communication with the fortification, the unit attempted to withdraw but was caught by defensive mortar fire from Easy Company, which was intended to disrupt the Chinese advance. The backup unit advanced to locate them, but both American units were struck by friendly mortar fire, resulting in casualties and scattered formations.

Chinese forces subsequently advanced into the fortified areas of the hill. After regrouping, Pidgeon led his three remaining men back up the hill to engage the enemy until their ammunition was exhausted, at which point they retreated to the Fox Company Command Post. Fox Company later deployed white phosphorus shells to provide cover for another ascent up the hill, which was still held by a small number of American soldiers. The fortification was eventually lost, and the 31st Infantry sustained heavy casualties, leaving only seven survivors of the engagement.

Pidgeon survived the battle and continued his Army career through the remainder of the Korean War and into the early stages of the Vietnam War, serving across various infantry and cavalry units. In January 1962, he deployed to Korea again with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry, in an advisory capacity as the Vietnam conflict began. He served with this unit until sustaining an injury in July 1962. Pidgeon was medically evacuated in August and was honorably discharged from the military in October 1962.

In 1955 he married Toshie Seto Pidgeon, and they had one daughter together. He died on May 19, 1980, in Seattle, Washington, where he was interred.

Read more about the Battle of Pork Chop Hill in the 1956 book by S.L.A. Marshall, Pork Chop Hill: The American Fighting Man in Action.