Arlington National Cemetery
  3-1312 

BORN:  January 24, 1928 at Washington, DC

Entered Service in the US Army from Washington, DC

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Korean War For heroism on January 30, 1951 at Kamyangjan-ni, Korea

(Buried with Robert McGovern is his brother Jerome, who was killed in action in Korea just eleven days after Robert's death.  The brothers were interred together in a joint funeral and ceremony.  Jerome McGovern earned the Silver Star before his death.)

First Lieutenant McGovern led his platoon up a slope to engage hostile troops emplaced in bunker-type pillboxes with connecting trenches. The unit came under heavy machinegun and rifle fire from the crest of the hill, approximately 75 yards distant. Despite a wound sustained in this initial burst of withering fire, Lieutenant McGovern assured the men of his ability to continue on and urged them forward. Forging up the rocky incline, he fearlessly led the platoon to within several yards of its objective when the ruthless foe threw a vicious barrage of hand grenades on the group and halted the advance. Enemy fire increased and Lieutenant McGovern, realizing that casualties were rapidly increasing and the morale of his men badly shaken, hurled back several grenades before they exploded. Then, disregarding his painful wound and weakened condition he charged a machinegun emplacement which was raking his position. Within 10 yards of the position a burst of fire ripped the carbine from his hands, but, undaunted, he continued his one-man assault and, firing his pistol and throwing grenades, killed 7 enemy before falling mortally wounded in front of the gun he had silenced.