Einar H. Ingman Jr.

EINAR H. INGMAN JR.
Medal of Honor recipient - Korean War 1951

Einar H. Ingman, Jr. of Tomahawk/Irma was one of five Medal of Honor recipients from Wisconsin to receive the nation's highest military honor for service in Korea. The four others, however, were awarded posthumously.
Ingman passed away Sept. 9, 2015, surrounded by his family at Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk.
The Medal of Honor is presented "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty." Almost 2 million Americans served in the Korean War, but only 136 were singled out for their actions.
Ingman displayed a special strength and courage on the battlefield on Feb. 26, 1951, while serving as a corporal with Company E, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division in Korea. On that day, near the town of Malta-ri, he was among two squads of men tasked with assaulting a fortified ridgetop position. Suddenly, the patrol ran into a Chinese force dug in at the top of a ridge above them. When both squad leaders were wounded, Ingman combined the squads and took command. After making a radio call for tank and artillery support, he led his soldiers against the position, encouraging them and directing their fire.
Ingman single-handedly attacked a machine gun firing on his group, tossing a hand grenade into the emplacement and killing the enemy crew with his rifle. While approaching a second machine gun, he was knocked to the ground and suffered significant injuries when a grenade exploded near his head. As he got to his feet, he was shot in the face by a Chinese soldier. He continued his attack on the machine gun, firing his rifle and killing the remaining crew with his bayonet, until falling unconscious. His men went on to capture.
Seven days later, Ingman regained consciousness in a hospital in Toyko, where he underwent emergency brain surgery. Later he was promoted to sergeant and was sent to a hospital in Battle Creek, Mich., where 23 more operations followed over the next two years.
In the summer of 1951, Ingman was flown from his hospital bed to Washington, D.C., where on July 5, 1951, President Harry Truman presented him with the Medal of Honor. He is also the recipient of two Purple Hearts, a Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars.
Afterwards, Ingman came home to Tomahawk, greeted by a crowd of 20,000 people at a "Welcome Home Parade and Celebration." His hometown presented him with a new car, boat, motor and trailer.
Exactly one year after receiving the Medal of Honor, he married the love of his life, Mardelle Goodfellow. In November 1952, he was discharged from the Army as retired. He went on to work as a mail clerk with the then Owens-Illinois Paper Corp. in Tomahawk, retiring after 32 years. He and Mardelle raised seven children. The couple took part in 11 presidential inaugurations and traveled the world extensively, including multiple trips back to Korea.
In February 2003, Ingman suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage. He has not been able to travel outside the Tomahawk area since then. He lost his devoted wife and advocate in April 2011.In the summer of 2014, Ingman was honored with the Order of Military Merit (Taegueg) from the Republic of Korea-South Korea. On Oct. 6, 2014, there was a celebration with a special postage stamp, postal cancellation and envelope marking Ingman's 85th birthday, which was just one way the Tomahawk area could say thank you to our local hero.
Ingman has always said he did his courageous acts "for the men and country," and that he wears the Medal of Honor not for himself, but "for everyone who has served."
Ingman is survived by his 7 children:
Karen (Steve) Watzlawick, Irma
Judy (Ron Turner), Mews Silver Lake
Tom Ingman, East Troy
Jerry (Louise) Ingman, Kronenwetter
Jimmy (Courtney) Ingman, Marshall
Sister: Janet (Alvin) Panzer, Tomahawk
2 Brothers: Ted (Doris) Ingman, Tomahawk
Larry (Betty) Ingman, Tomahawk
8 Grandchildren: Kristy, Stacey, Jared, Alexis, Roswell, Hanna, Chad and Cooper
6 Great-grandchildren: Hayden, Landen, Emma, Jack, Eli and Cale
He is further survived by 1 grandchild and 2 great-grandchildren on the way.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Mardelle, and his brother, Bob.
Memorials are appreciated to the Einar Ingman Scholarship Fund or the Honor Flight Program.
You may view the obituary and leave online condolences at www.kruegerfamilyfuneral.com