Travis Earl Watkins (1920 - 1950)

Born 5 Sep 1920 in Waldo, Columbia County, Arkansas, USA

Ancestors

Died 3 Sep 1950 at age 29 in Korea

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Biography

Travis Watkins participated in the Korean War. Join: Military and War Project Discuss: Military_and_War

Travis Watkins is Notable.

Travis Watkins was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Master Sgt Travis Watkins was Wounded in Action during the Korean War.

Master Sgt Travis Watkins was Killed in Action during the Korean War.

Travis Watkins was born Sept. 5, 1920 in Waldo, Arkansas. A report is his parents were Joseph Earl Watkins (1894 - 1977) and Unknown mother. His family moved to East Texas when he was a young child and he attended school in the city of Troup.^[1] Master Sergeant Travis Earl Watkins, Service ID: 06295287, KIA, Korea

Watkins enlisted in the United States Army in 1939. He served in the Pacific during World War II and earned a Bronze Star during the Guadalcanal Campaign. ^[2]

After returning to the United States at the end of the war, Watkins married Madie Sue Barnett on April 15, 1948; they had two daughters.

Lifetime Achievement(s): Posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War. President Harry S. Truman presented the Medal of Honor to Master Sergeant Watkins' wife, Madie Sue Barnett Watkins, on January 9, 1951 in Washington D.C.

Decorations

Master Sergeant Watkins received the Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Medal of Honor citation

M/Sgt. Watkins distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. When an overwhelming enemy force broke through and isolated 30 men of his unit, he took command, established a perimeter defense and directed action which repelled continuous, fanatical enemy assaults. With his group completely surrounded and cut off, he moved from foxhole to foxhole exposing himself to enemy fire, giving instructions and offering encouragement to his men. Later when the need for ammunition and grenades became critical he shot 2 enemy soldiers 50 yards outside the perimeter and went out alone for their ammunition and weapons. As he picked up their weapons he was attacked by 3 others and wounded. Returning their fire he killed all 3 and gathering up the weapons of the 5 enemy dead returned to his amazed comrades. During a later assault, 6 enemy soldiers gained a defiladed spot and began to throw grenades into the perimeter making it untenable. Realizing the desperate situation and disregarding his wound he rose from his foxhole to engage them with rifle fire. Although immediately hit by a burst from an enemy machinegun he continued to fire until he had killed the grenade throwers. With this threat eliminated he collapsed and despite being paralyzed from the waist down, encouraged his men to hold on. He refused all food, saving it for his comrades, and when it became apparent that help would not arrive in time to hold the position ordered his men to escape to friendly lines. Refusing evacuation as his hopeless condition would burden his comrades, he remained in his position and cheerfully wished them luck. Through his aggressive leadership and intrepid actions, this small force destroyed nearly 500 of the enemy before abandoning their position. M/Sgt. Watkins' sustained personal bravery and noble self-sacrifice reflect the highest glory upon himself and is in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the U.S. Army^[3][4]

Burial: Gladewater Memorial Park, Gladewater, Upshur County, Texas, USA

Plot: Section D, Lot 25, Grave 7

GPS (lat/lon): 32.5558, -95.0019

Find A Grave: Memorial #7855248 Master Sergeant Travis Earl Watkins

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travis_E._Watkins
2. ↑ https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/watkins-travis-e
3. ↑ Texas State Cemetery website MOH listing
4. ↑ U.S. Army Center for Military History website

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Korean_War_Medal_of_Honor_recipients
• https://web.archive.org/web/20090310142628/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/koreanwar.html

See also:

• Texas State Cemetery website MOH listing
• U.S. Army Center for Military History website
• Travis Watkins Wikipedia entry