Through the bravery and defiance of one man, many more lives were saved.
On April 24, 1951, 300,000 Chinese troops were headed straight for Army Maj. Dave Teich's tank platoon near the 38th parallel that is now the divide between North and South Korea. Before he could move out with his men, he received a radio report from E.C. Rivera, an Army Ranger. They were pinned down, cut off, and in very bad shape.
Teich's captain denied the group any help with a shocking "Screw them. Let them fight their own battles," response. Teich volunteered to stay behind with four tanks and go on a daring rescue mission while the rest of the troops high-tailed it south.
The surrounded Rangers took off to the rescue tanks, taking fire the whole time. They climbed aboard, covering every inch of armor, and returned south. Thanks to the actions of Dave Teich and his bold stance against his superiors, he still receives letters and phone calls from survivors today.
