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Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company L, 128th
Infantry, 32d Infantry Division. Place and date: Villa Verde Trail, Luzon,
Philippine Islands, 31 March 1945. Entered service at: Selma, Calif. Birth:
Bokoshe, Okla. G.O. No.: 89, 19 October 1945. Citation: He was in position
with his unit on a hill when the enemy, after a concentration of artillery
fire, launched a counterattack.. He maintained his position under intense
enemy fire and urged his comrades to withdraw, saying that he would "remain
to the end" to provide cover. Although he had to clear two stoppages which
impeded the reloading of his weapon, he halted one enemy charge. Hostile
troops then began moving in on his left flank, and he quickly shifted his
gun to fire on them. Knowing that the only route of escape was being cut
off by the enemy, he ordered the remainder of his squad to withdraw to
safety and deliberately remained at his post. He continued to fire until
he was killed during the ensuing enemy charge. Later, 4 Japanese were found
dead in front of his position. Pfc. Shockley, facing certain death, sacrificed
himself to save his fellow soldiers, but the heroism and gallantry displayed
by him enabled his squad to reorganize and continue its attack.
This data was extracted from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. Senate, Medal of Honor Recipients: 1863-1973 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1973)
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