Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun, while assigned to Headquarters Company,
8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, distinguished
himself by extraordinary heroism, patriotism, and selfless
service between Nov. 1-2, 1950. During the Battle of Unsan,
Kapaun was serving with the 3rd Battalion of the 8th Cavalry
Regiment. As Chinese Communist forces encircled the battalion,
Kapaun moved fearlessly from foxhole to foxhole under direct
enemy fire in order to provide comfort and reassurance to the
outnumbered Soldiers. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy
fire to recover wounded men, dragging them to safety. When he
couldn't drag them, he dug shallow trenches to shield them from
enemy fire. As Chinese forces closed in, Kapaun rejected several
chances to escape, instead volunteering to stay behind and care
for the wounded. He was taken as a prisoner of war by Chinese
forces on Nov. 2, 1950. After he was captured, Kapaun and other
prisoners were marched for several days northward toward
prisoner-of-war camps. During the ma