He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his conduct during the Battle of Hoengsong when assaulted by a numerically superior force on February 12, 1951, he voluntarily remained at his forward post and continued to direct mortar fire until being overrun and killed.

Growing up in the Mount Washington area of Independence, Long delivered newspapers for The Kansas City Star, worked for the Fairmount Inter-City News, and sold soda pop at a bus station.

In the early morning hours of that day, on Hill 300 near Hoengseong, he was acting as a forward observer for the company's mortar platoon when they came under attack by a numerically superior force.

Although ordered to withdraw, Long voluntarily stayed at his advance post, holding off the enemy with his M1 Carbine and hand grenades while continuing to direct mortar fire via radio.

Long, a member of Company M, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations.

When Company M, in a defensive perimeter on Hill 300, was viciously attacked by a numerically superior hostile force at approximately 0300 hours and ordered to withdraw, Sgt.

Long's inspirational, valorous action halted the onslaught, exacted a heavy toll of enemy casualties, and enabled his company to withdraw, reorganize, counterattack, and regain the hill strongpoint.