Marine Staff Sergeant Ambrosio Guillen earned the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic leadership two days before the Korean Armistice went into effect, when he rallied his platoon, part of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, to beat back and defeat a much larger communist attack.

Guillen had previously served as an MCRD San Diego drill instructor, where the depot commander, Major General John T. Walker praised his ability, writing that “your success in training [your] platoons has demonstrated your outstanding ability as a leader.”

Though mortally wounded, Guillen refused to be evacuated during the battle and he succumbed to his wounds. A year later, the Secretary of the Navy presented the Medal of Honor to Guillen’s parents. Two days after Guillen’s actions, the armistice went into effect, ending the Korean War.