Hometown: Madison, NJ
Branch: U.S. Army
Unit: Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Military Honors: Medal of Honor, Purple Heart
Date of Sacrifice: October 12, 1950 - KIA near Kaesong, Korea
Age: 24 
Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953

Sam Coursen was born and raised in Madison, New Jersey—25 miles west of New York City—to William and Kathleen (Howell) Coursen. At Newark Academy high school, Sam was a popular student and athlete. His fellow students elected him class president, president of the athletic association, and captain of the football team. Coursen, at 6' 6", later earned the title of amateur boxing heavyweight champion of New Jersey.

Coursen received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1945 and graduated with the class of 1949. Shortly after receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant, Coursen married Evangeline “Evie” Sprague. The two would later welcome a son, Samuel Jr.

Coursen was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas in August of 1950 to complete the Army Officer Basic Course, then to Fort Benning, Georgia for Basic Airborne training. He was promoted to First Lieutenant and placed in command of Company C, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division.

At the beginning of the Korean War (1950-1953), 1LT Coursen’s regiment was sent to Korea. According to the Austin Daily Herald:

At the time, United Nations forces were in the early stages of an offensive into North Korea. The Korean People’s Army [KPA] was in retreat after having been driven back by Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s invasion at Inchon and the breakout of UN forces at the Pusan Perimeter. The First Cavalry Division was tasked with crossing the 38th Parallel at Kaesong in a three-pronged attack along a 15-mile expanse between Kaesong and Kumch’on. During the offensive, the Fifth Cavalry Regiment would move to outflank and capture KPA forces south of Kumch’on.

Just three months after arriving in Korea, 1LT Coursen demonstrated courage that would earn him the nation’s highest military honor. His Medal of Honor citation reads:

1st Lt. Coursen distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action. While Company C was attacking Hill 174 under heavy enemy small-arms fire, his platoon received enemy fire from close range. The platoon returned the fire and continued to advance. During this phase, one of his men moved into a well-camouflaged emplacement, which was thought to be unoccupied, and was wounded by the enemy who were hidden within the emplacement. Seeing the soldier in difficulty he rushed to the man’s aid and, without regard for his personal safety, engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat in an effort to protect his wounded comrade until he himself was killed. When his body was recovered after the battle seven enemy dead were found in the emplacement. As the result of 1st Lt. Coursen’s violent struggle several of the enemies’ heads had been crushed with his rifle. His aggressive and intrepid actions saved the life of the wounded man, eliminated the main position of the enemy roadblock, and greatly inspired the men in his command. 1st Lt. Coursen’s extraordinary heroism and intrepidity reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the honored traditions of the military service.

1LT Samuel S. Coursen was 24 years old when he gave his life to his country, and to save a one of his men. Coursen was laid to rest with his fellow soldiers at the West Point Post Cemetery (Section VII, Row E, Site 230).

In September 1951, the football field at Newark Academy was named Coursen Memorial Field in his honor.

In 1956, the U.S. Army christened a 172-foot ferry vessel in his honor. The Coursen transported passengers and vehicles between Governors Island and Manhattan in New York Harbor.

Sources
Korean War Project: 1LT Samuel Streit Coursen
Austin Daily Herald, August 1, 2020: 50 Sates, 50 Heroes: A life for a life
Tales of Honor Podcast: Samuel S Coursen
HonorStates.org: Samuel Streit Coursen
West-Point.org, The Class of 1949: In Memoriam: 17342 Coursen, Samuel Streit
Burial Site: Find a Grave