The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Robert E. Parker (ASN: RA-39470454), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company M, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 25 and 26 November 1950, at Somin-dong, Korea. Shortly before midnight on 25 November, the company of which Sergeant Parker was First Sergeant, was subjected to a fanatical enemy attack. Seeing an enemy mortar shell scoring a direct hit on a building occupied by some of his men, he rushed across an open area swept by intense enemy fire to enter the burning building and remove from it a wounded soldier. After carrying his wounded comrade to a place of relative safety Sergeant Parker immediately rejoined his unit and, in defiance of the heavy enemy fire and fierce assaults, quickly organized his men into a fighting force. By his example of personal leadership, he succeeded in resisting any further efforts of the enemy to overrun the friendly positions, thus permitting the evacuation of all wounded. The gallantry and devotion to his comrades demonstrated by Sergeant Parker on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and uphold the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.