Background
Simanek was born on April 26, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan.
Simanek was born on April 26, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan.
He graduated from high school there in 1948 and worked for the Ford Motor Company and General Motors before he was inducted into the United States Marine Corps on August 13, 1951.
Completing recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in October 1951, he was ordered to Camp Pendleton, California, the following month. After further training at Camp Pendleton, he sailed for of Korea in April 1952, joining Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines on May 6, 1952. He had earned two battle stars by the time of his Medal of Honor action.
Simanek was serving with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, when the action occurred on August 18, 1952.
His patrol had gone well forward of friendly lines to occupy an outpost when the Marines ran into a trap. He threw himself on an enemy grenade to save his comrades, and was severely wounded in the legs.
Simanek received medical treatment aboard the hospital ship United States Ship Haven and in Japan before being returned to the United States in September 1952. He then was hospitalized at Mare Island, California, and at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, until he was placed on the temporary disability retired list, March 1, 1953.
Medal of Honor citation.
With his unit ambushed by an intense concentration of enemy mortar and small-arms fire, and suffering heavy casualties he was forced to seek cover with the remaining members of the patrol in the near-by trench line.