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 Sergeant First Class Charles Wayne Conklin (ASN: ER-38395243), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company I, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 16 February 1951, in the vicinity of Sansong-ni, Korea, the area in which Company I was located was subjected to extremely heavy mortar fire. At the same time the enemy opened up with small arms fire, pinning Sergeant Conklin’s platoon to the ground. Aware of the danger of mortar fire to exposed personnel, Sergeant Conklin left a sheltered position and directed all his personnel into covered positions. Heedless of the mortar and small arms fire, Sergeant Conklin moved from position to position shouting words of encouragement to his men. While in this exposed position an enemy mortar shell landed close to Sergeant Conklin and killed him instantly. Sergeant Conklin’s devotion to duty, his concern for the lives of his own men, and his extreme bravery under concentrated fire reflects great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.