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Lt. Col. John U.E. Page. (Marine Corps Photo)
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Lt. Col. John U. D. Page
Heroic Officer Saved Countless Lives During His Last Dozen Days
By Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Military.com Contributing Writer
A bespectacled, mustachioed Princetonian, Lt. Col. John Upshur Dennis Page seemed an unlikely 20-year Army veteran. Page had spent World War II sidelined at Fort Sill, Okla., where his talent for whipping lackluster units into battle shape was needed. When war broke out in Korea, the 46-year-old Page was finally given his own chance to prove his combat mettle -- and prove it he did during 12 incredible days.
His first hours in combat, near the "Frozen Chosin" Reservoir, included commanding a tank, bombarding enemy posts, and brainstorming a new airstrip to evacuate the overcrowded Marine hospital at Koto-Ri. On Nov. 29, 1950, Page led a nine-jeep communications convoy north from Hamhung. As darkness fell over snowy roads, Page's jeep was attacked. Page ordered his driver, Cpl. David Klepsig, to stay with the jeep, shouting, "I'll cover you!"
Klepsig was astounded at what he saw: the colonel was standing in the middle of the road, completely exposed, spraying the Chinese positions with carbine fire. The enemy was so startled no return fire came. Klepsig was so startled that once the officer returned to the jeep, he slammed his foot on the accelerator. "Slow down, corporal," Page shouted. "Do you want to get us killed?"
After 10 days of combat, in which Page continually exposed himself to danger, he was flown back to Hamhung. Rather than remaining in safety, he returned to the front to help lead a retreating column of Marines. The column had been ambushed and was sitting dead on the road when Page fought to its front, attacking an enemy again so startled that at least 30 Chinese soldiers "bolted for the hills." Late that night, Dec. 10, 1950, the Marine column, moving once more, came upon the body of John Page -- and the bodies of 16 enemy soldiers he'd taken out.
Many of the Marines knelt beside Page's body and offered prayers. Countless men were evacuated and saved because of Page's bravery in his final 12 days. For his Dec. 10 actions, Page was awarded the Medal of Honor. Perhaps even more significant, however, was the second posthumous award given this lifelong Army veteran -- the Navy Cross.
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