The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Charles Harry Cole (ASN: RA-13318844), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company I, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 12 February 1951 in the vicinity of Saemal, Korea. On that date, Company I was defending part of its battalion perimeter. Friendly units to the front had with withdrawn through the lines and a large enemy force was attempting to penetrate the battalion perimeter. Some of the units passing through the line left behind weapons that were inoperable. Many of these were left on damaged vehicles along the road. Corporal Cole, the unit mail clerk, realized that many of these weapons could be repaired and used to assist the defense of the battalion perimeter. Running to the area where these weapons were, Corporal Cole secured a number of them and returned to the company command post were he assumed the task of repairing them. While engaged in that task, he was continually exposed to the intense enemy fire falling throughout the company area. Finally he had five or six guns in operating order and they were placed in the defensive area around the command post. Even then Corporal Cole continued to move from weapon to weapon, making repairs and carrying ammunition to his comrades. When the battalion later withdrew through the hostile fire block, Corporal Cole manned a machine gun for the protection of the vehicular column. Courageously firing his weapon, he fell mortally wounded. The gallantry displayed by Corporal Cole at the sacrifice of his own life reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.