Lieutenant Colonel John H Newell (Colonel)
John Hyatt Newell was born on 1 December 1922 in Denver, Colorado to Hyatt and Madeline Newell. Following in his father's footsteps, himself a veteran of the Great War, John enlisted in the US Army at the age of 18 on 1 July 1941, serving with the 24th Infantry Division stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii at Schofield Barracks. When the Japanese attacked on December 7th 1941, Newell witnessed the entire event, as his barracks were strafed by attacking Zeros. Later on in WW2, Newell would be assigned to the 69th Infantry Division until attending Fort Benning’s Officer Candidate School and being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on March 3rd, 1945. Following the end of WWII, he would continue to serve in the Army, and would eventually be sent to China as part of the Conflict and Control Team, Peiping Headquarters, stationed in Manchuria, and later as an Adjutant in the Joint US Military Affairs Group (JUSMAG) in Nanking, China in 1948 to advise Chinese forces for a total of 32 months. Although JUSMAG was sent home due to increased tensions in China, for his service, he would be awarded the Breast Order Yun Hui of National China, China’s highest award bestowed upon foreigners. His continued post war service would later send him to Korea where he would see heavy combat:
During a period of several days in September 1950, while serving with Love Co. 23rd Inf, 2nd ID, then 1st Lt. Newell, who was promoted to this rank on March 3rd, 1948, was awarded the Silver Star with an additional Oak Leaf Cluster for his actions. His citation reads: “The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant] John H. Newell (ASN: 0-38420), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 16 September 1950 near Changnyong, Korea. On that date his company was attacking enemy positions along the Naktong River. Captain Newell, leader of the weapons platoon, directed the fire of his mortars in close support of the attacking elements. While displacing forward, a section of his mortars was attacked from the rear by a small group of enemy. He aggressively launched a counterattack, amidst intense automatic weapons and grenade fire, and eliminated the entire group of enemy. When his wire line to the company commander was severed by enemy fire, he continued to lead his section and place it in positions from which it could support a rifle platoon which was engaged in flanking the enemy. His gallant performance during this engagement was instrumental in the success of his company seizing its objective and prevented serious casualties to the assault platoons. The gallantry and skillful leadership displayed by Captain Newell reflect the highest credit upon himself are in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.” |
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Eight days later, he would earn a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a second Silver Star.
“[...] for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 24 September 1950 in the vicinity of Hyopchon, Korea. Captain Newell was following the forward platoon of Company L to direct mortar fire upon enemy positions. As he reached the rear elements of the 3d platoon a by-passed enemy, emplaced in a camouflaged position, shot and wounded a member of the platoon. Although he was but a few feet from the enemy, who was armed with a machine pistol, Captain Newell stopped to render first aid to the wounded soldier and to move him out of the line of fire. He then single-handedly charged the hostile position and killed the enemy soldier with his carbine fire. His heroic action was responsible for saving the life of the wounded man.”
Afterwards, it was deemed appropriate to promote Newell to Captain, which occured on September 27th, 1950. The following year, Captain Newell would be awarded his first Bronze Star with combat “V”:
“Captain John H Newell, 038420, Infantry, United States Army, a member of Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, distinguished himself by heroic achievement on 15 and 16 February 1951 near Chiyong-ni, Korea. During that period, he was the Air Operations Officer for an infantry regiment which was completely surrounded and under constant attack by a large enemy force. Throughout the night of 15 February 1951 and the following day he remained by his radio, under constant artillery and mortar fire, directing airstrikes against the enemy. He maintained a calm attitude throughout the attack and his courageous actions contributed greatly towards the success of his unit and repelling the enemy. The heroism displayed by Captain Newell reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.”
Following the Korean War, Newell became an Instructor at the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, and then was sent to Germany with HQ, 7th US Army as an Assistant G2. He would be promoted to the rank of Major on July 11th, 1956 and then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on June 22nd, 1962. With America focusing on the Vietnam War in the 1960’s, Lt Col. Newell's experience led him to being sent to Vietnam as a Senior Advisor with the Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG) stationed at Dong Da National Training Center as a Senior Advisor to the Republic of Vietnam from March 12th, 1963 to February 24th, 1964. Here, he would be awarded his 2nd Bronze star for meritorious service during this period. Returning to the states, Newell would assume command of the 4th Mechanized Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, at Fort Ord in May 1964 attached to the 6th Army, and then finally as a Chief Training and Command Officer at Headquarters, USARPAC in Hawaii. Finally retiring in 1973, Newell settled down in Colorado, married Geraldine Short in 1980 after his first wife passed away, and enjoyed volunteering with the Red Cross in his free time. Unfortunately, John Newell passed away on October 1st, 2013 and is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.
Awards:
Silver Star w/ 1 OLC
Bronze Star w/ combat V and OLC
Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 OLC
Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Medal w/ 1 Star
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 Star
American Campaign Medal
WW2 Victory Medal
National Defense Medal w/ 1 Star
Korean Service Medal w/ 5 Stars
Occupation Medal (Germany)
Croix de Guerre ToE
Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner (2nd Grade)
UN Korea Service Medal
Initial write up by Nguyen Duc Khang and updated by me.
“[...] for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 24 September 1950 in the vicinity of Hyopchon, Korea. Captain Newell was following the forward platoon of Company L to direct mortar fire upon enemy positions. As he reached the rear elements of the 3d platoon a by-passed enemy, emplaced in a camouflaged position, shot and wounded a member of the platoon. Although he was but a few feet from the enemy, who was armed with a machine pistol, Captain Newell stopped to render first aid to the wounded soldier and to move him out of the line of fire. He then single-handedly charged the hostile position and killed the enemy soldier with his carbine fire. His heroic action was responsible for saving the life of the wounded man.”
Afterwards, it was deemed appropriate to promote Newell to Captain, which occured on September 27th, 1950. The following year, Captain Newell would be awarded his first Bronze Star with combat “V”:
“Captain John H Newell, 038420, Infantry, United States Army, a member of Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, distinguished himself by heroic achievement on 15 and 16 February 1951 near Chiyong-ni, Korea. During that period, he was the Air Operations Officer for an infantry regiment which was completely surrounded and under constant attack by a large enemy force. Throughout the night of 15 February 1951 and the following day he remained by his radio, under constant artillery and mortar fire, directing airstrikes against the enemy. He maintained a calm attitude throughout the attack and his courageous actions contributed greatly towards the success of his unit and repelling the enemy. The heroism displayed by Captain Newell reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.”
Following the Korean War, Newell became an Instructor at the US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, and then was sent to Germany with HQ, 7th US Army as an Assistant G2. He would be promoted to the rank of Major on July 11th, 1956 and then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on June 22nd, 1962. With America focusing on the Vietnam War in the 1960’s, Lt Col. Newell's experience led him to being sent to Vietnam as a Senior Advisor with the Military Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG) stationed at Dong Da National Training Center as a Senior Advisor to the Republic of Vietnam from March 12th, 1963 to February 24th, 1964. Here, he would be awarded his 2nd Bronze star for meritorious service during this period. Returning to the states, Newell would assume command of the 4th Mechanized Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, at Fort Ord in May 1964 attached to the 6th Army, and then finally as a Chief Training and Command Officer at Headquarters, USARPAC in Hawaii. Finally retiring in 1973, Newell settled down in Colorado, married Geraldine Short in 1980 after his first wife passed away, and enjoyed volunteering with the Red Cross in his free time. Unfortunately, John Newell passed away on October 1st, 2013 and is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery.
Awards:
Silver Star w/ 1 OLC
Bronze Star w/ combat V and OLC
Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 OLC
Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Medal w/ 1 Star
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 1 Star
American Campaign Medal
WW2 Victory Medal
National Defense Medal w/ 1 Star
Korean Service Medal w/ 5 Stars
Occupation Medal (Germany)
Croix de Guerre ToE
Chinese Order of the Cloud and Banner (2nd Grade)
UN Korea Service Medal
Initial write up by Nguyen Duc Khang and updated by me.