Korean War Distinguished Service Cross Recipient Visits Mississippi Armed Forces Museum | News

By: Chad Daniels, Director, Mississippi Armed Forces Museum

The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum welcomed a distinguished visitor on May 5. Retired Army Maj. Richard “Dick” S. Agnew, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross from Plano, Texas, visited the museum with his friend and former Army comrade retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Louis Pace of Hattiesburg. Pace is a Camp Shelby retiree who served as post comptroller. The pair served together in Germany during the Cold War.

 Agnew received his Distinguished Service Cross during the latter part of the Korean War. In July, 1953, Agnew and another Soldier, Sgt. Gilbert Collier, fell from a 60-foot cliff while patrolling in the Korean highlands. Both were injured and spent the following night separated from their platoon. While isolated, they were attacked by a Chinese patrol. Both Soldiers refused to be taken prisoner and fought tenaciously, expending all of their ammunition and engaging in hand-to-hand combat despite being injured from the fall. The enemy patrol withdrew leaving at least four dead. The pair was located the next day by United Nations troops. Collier was found dead of wounds received in close quarters combat and Agnew was semi-conscious. Collier was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for the action while Agnew received the second highest decoration for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Agnew, now retired from the military and civilian employment, is the Commander of the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the Legion of Valor. The Legion of Valor is a veteran’s organization for recipients of the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and Air Force Cross.