He served with 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division a group called the Blue Buffaloes.
Called the Blue Buffaloes, 3rd Battalion shared part of the 17ths Main Line of Resistance in the Kumwah Valley near Chorwon -- a location where enemy troops had been causing severe problems for nearby U.S. forces, Rockwell ( narrator of the source for this sketch) recalled.
He went on to tell how 1st Lt. Renneman was ordered to assault the enemys position with the intent of destroying it and returning with prisoners for interrogation.
The attack began on the morning of July 16, 1952, and Renneman's platoon led the assault. Taking massive small-arms fire from the entrenched Chinese troops, Renneman was injured several times as he fired his weapon with one hand and tossed enemy grenades back at them with the other.
When he finally fell from his injuries, he was so far ahead of his soldiers they were unable to retrieve his body before they withdrew.
The following day, when the U.S. troops were allowed to enter enemy lines unmolested to recover Rennemans remains, they discovered that his body had been preserved.
Not only had their commander's body not been booby-trapped, but he had been cleaned, his uniform repaired of damages. Both his boots and class ring were left intact.
With it they found a note inscribed, "Brave soldier. Take him home."
Renneman was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and his companions -- the West Point Class of 1951 -- inducted him as an honorary member
Lt. Renneman was buried at Zion Episcopal Church, Douglaston, Queens County, NY on September 6, 1952. (ref. burial record of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Port Washington, NY - Renneman's family lived in Port Washington at the time of his death, and he was buried by the Rector of St. Stephen's)
He served with 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division a group called the Blue Buffaloes.
Called the Blue Buffaloes, 3rd Battalion shared part of the 17ths Main Line of Resistance in the Kumwah Valley near Chorwon -- a location where enemy troops had been causing severe problems for nearby U.S. forces, Rockwell ( narrator of the source for this sketch) recalled.
He went on to tell how 1st Lt. Renneman was ordered to assault the enemys position with the intent of destroying it and returning with prisoners for interrogation.
The attack began on the morning of July 16, 1952, and Renneman's platoon led the assault. Taking massive small-arms fire from the entrenched Chinese troops, Renneman was injured several times as he fired his weapon with one hand and tossed enemy grenades back at them with the other.
When he finally fell from his injuries, he was so far ahead of his soldiers they were unable to retrieve his body before they withdrew.
The following day, when the U.S. troops were allowed to enter enemy lines unmolested to recover Rennemans remains, they discovered that his body had been preserved.
Not only had their commander's body not been booby-trapped, but he had been cleaned, his uniform repaired of damages. Both his boots and class ring were left intact.
With it they found a note inscribed, "Brave soldier. Take him home."
Renneman was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and his companions -- the West Point Class of 1951 -- inducted him as an honorary member
Lt. Renneman was buried at Zion Episcopal Church, Douglaston, Queens County, NY on September 6, 1952. (ref. burial record of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Port Washington, NY - Renneman's family lived in Port Washington at the time of his death, and he was buried by the Rector of St. Stephen's)
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