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Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company D, 20th Infantry,
6th Infantry Division. Place and date: Cordillera Mountains, Luzon, Philippine
Islands, 29 July 1945. Entered service at: Nashport, Ohio. Birth: Salem,
W. Va. G.O. No.: 49, 31 May 1946. Citation: He displayed conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while fighting in the
Cordillera Mountains of Luzon, Philippine Islands. When 2 Filipino companies
were pinned down under a torrent of enemy fire that converged on them from
a circular ridge commanding their position, Cpl. Mayfield, in a gallant
single-handed effort to aid them, rushed from shell hole to shell hole
until he reached 4 enemy caves atop the barren fire-swept hill. With grenades
and his carbine, he assaulted each of the caves while enemy fire pounded
about him. However, before he annihilated the last hostile redoubt, a machinegun
bullet destroyed his weapon and slashed his left hand. Disregarding his
wound, he secured more grenades and dauntlessly charged again into the
face of pointblank fire to help destroy a hostile observation post. By
his gallant determination and heroic leadership, Cpl. Mayfield inspired
the men to eliminate all remaining pockets of resistance in the area and
to press the advance against the enemy.
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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