The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant [then Private First Class] Harold R. Morter, Jr., United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company K, 63d Infantry Regiment, 6th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Luzon, on 7 February 1945. After a heavy tank battle the night before, his platoon was mopping up a large enemy force. Approaching a deep ditch, the platoon was held up by a barrage of hand grenades. Without thought of his safety, he crawled to the ditch, after throwing two grenades, rushed the position, and in hand-to-hand combat killed three of the enemy. Sergeant Morter’s heroic action enabled the platoon to advance and complete its mission.