Herbert Pililaau Last Knife Stand

On September 17, 1951, during the Korean War, Private First Class Herbert K. Pililaau stayed behind as a volunteer rear guard while his platoon withdrew under heavy North Korean attack. He covered their retreat with his automatic rifle until he ran out of ammunition, then threw grenades and hurled rocks to keep the enemy back. When the North Koreans closed in, he drew his trench knife and kept fighting hand-to-hand until they finally killed him. After U.S. forces retook the position, they found Pililaau’s body surrounded by about 40 dead enemy soldiers, and he later received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

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