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 Master Sergeant Rene Hammonds (ASN: RA-33040938), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company B, 64th Heavy Tank Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 24 March 1951, in the vicinity of Piu, Korea, Sergeant Hammonds was leading an armored patrol, when it was fired upon by the enemy with intense mortar and small arms fire. From his tank, Sergeant Hammonds noticing that a member of another tank’s crew had been wounded, voluntarily and with great risk to his own safety went to the assistance of the wounded man, administering first aid and having him evacuated to the rear. After he had returned to his tank, Sergeant Hammonds saw that an engineer accompanying the patrol had also been wounded. Without hesitation Sergeant Hammonds left the safety of his armored vehicle and gave medical aid to the injured soldier. As he was going back to his tank, Sergeant Hammonds himself was fatally wounded. Sergeant Hammonds’ gallantry and exemplary devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.