Korean War US Purple Heart to US Airborne KIA 1951

A United States of America Purple Heart medal in original fitted coffin box with bar and enamel bar named to Private William D Partin of the 187 Airborne Regiment Combat Team.
RA16327471 Private William Donald Partin was born in Wisconsin on the 19th September 1931. He served with the 187th Airborne Regiment Combat Team (the "Rakkasans"), part of the 11th Airborne division during the Korean war. They were deployed to Japan, arriving on 20th September 1950. The advance party of the 3rd Battalion of the Rakkasans was the first to arrive in South Korea, arriving at Kimpo Airfield on 23rd September. On 24th September, it was placed under the operational control of the First Marine Division, relieving the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment, arriving almost a week after Douglas MacArthur's surprise landing at Inchon on 17th September 1950.
On 20th October 1950, the regiment made successful combat parachute assaults near the towns of Sukchon and Sunchon, North Korea as part of the Battle of Yongju. The published purpose of that drop was to capture members of the North Korean Government fleeing Pyongyang and to free American POWs being moved from Pyongyang toward the Manchurian border. Neither objective was realized but were followed by battles at Suan, Wonju, Kaesong, Munsan-ni, and Inje.
The 187th led the second and last parachute assault in Korea on 23rd March 1951 as part of Operation Tomahawk, part of part of Operation Courageous.
This operation was designed to drop the 187th RCT about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of the then current front line. They did so, parachuting from over a 120 C-119 Flying Boxcar and C-46 transport aircraft. When they landed, they linked up with Task Force Growdon, which was made up of armoured elements from the US 24th Infantry Division (United States)'s 6th Medium Tank Battalion and infantry elements from the US 3rd Infantry Division. The forces advanced to their goal, meeting weak resistance, mostly minefields because the PVA/KPA had retreated before they got there. 136 of the PVA/KPA forces were killed in action, and 149 were captured during the operation. The 187th RCT suffered 19 fatalities and dozens of wounded. Sadly, Private Partin was one of those killed in action on March 26th 1951, he was just 20 years old. His body was repatriated to the US and he is now remembered with honour at the Summit Corners Cemetery, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
His medal comes with various copied research from the US archives including a photograph of William in uniform and memorial etc. His medal is in excellent condition.
A rare casualty medal to US airborne.

Code: 31774