 Kouma , along with Dodd and Pittman , were the first soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Korean War who were present for the presentation of their medals . It was reported the other nine soldiers who were awarded the medal , were done so posthumously . Unbeknownst to the public , Major General William F. Dean , who had been awarded the medal for actions in the Battle of Taejon , was actually a prisoner of war in North Korea . 
