The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class James J. Scroggins (ASN: RA-19083430), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 27 November 1950 in the vicinity of Yongsu-dong, Korea. Numerically superior enemy forces had attacked his company’s hill position and after three hostile assaults had been contained. The company received orders to withdraw from its untenable position. After organizing his platoon for its withdrawal, he moved to an abandoned machine gun and, although fully exposed and subjected to intense enemy mortar and small arms fire, he successfully fought off the advancing enemy until his platoon had executed an orderly withdrawal. During his heroic stand against overwhelming odds he was wounded by the enemy fire. His gallantry in voluntarily covering the withdrawal of his comrades reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.