The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SGT William Boyce Shelton, RA19293680, who died in the service of his country on March 31st, 1951 in North Korea. The cause of death was listed as Captured-Died POW. At the time of his death William was 20 years of age. He was from Contra Costa County, California. William's Military Occupation Specialty was 4745-Light Weapons Infantryman.
The decorations earned by SGT William Boyce Shelton include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Sergeant Shelton was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on August 19, 1950 and returned to duty on September 10, 1950. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy in North Korea on November 27, 1950 and died while a prisoner on March 31, 1951. His remains were not recovered. For his leadership and valor, Sergeant Shelton was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, 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.
He was known to family as "Billy" and was originally from Little Rock, Arkansas.
His DSC Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to William B. Shelton (RA19293680), Corporal [then Private First Class], U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a platoon scout with Company B, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Corporal Shelton distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces near Haman, Korea, on 19 August 1950. On that date, Company B launched an attack against the enemy who were entrenched on a ridge near Haman. Corporal Shelton was advancing toward the objective when he came upon an enemy soldier crouching behind a boulder. He kicked the weapon from the hands of the enemy, shot him, then shifted his fire and killed two more enemy who were only a few yards away. During this action the platoon machine-gunner and his assistant were killed while trying to put their gun into operation. Although partially blinded by blood which was flowing from a head wound he had received, Corporal Shelton ran to the machine-gun position, removed the bodies of his comrades, set up the gun, and delivered devastating fire on the enemy, which was instrumental in the success of the company's attack.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 187 (April 5, 1951), as amended by General Orders No. 209 (1951)
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