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 [then Corporal] Burl Branham (ASN: ER-15288863), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 4 June 1951, Sergeant Branham was in command of a recoilless rifle squad attached to an assault platoon having the mission of capturing an important ridge line on the approaches to Chorwon, Korea. Assaulting a sheer rock escarpment, the lead rifle squad fought its way to the extremely narrow top of the cliff and although subjected to heavy enemy automatic weapons fire, managed to grimly retain its small insecure foothold. Sergeant Branham, cognizant of the squad’s tenuous situation, voluntarily climbed to its isolated location and reconnoitered a firing position for a recoilless rifle. Able to find a single suitable position and that large enough for only the weapon and one man, Sergeant Branham obtained the weapon, and although showered with rock fragments chipped by enemy bullets, he placed the rifle, knocking out the hostile position with accurate fire. Enabled by the destruction of the enemy emplacement to advance along the thin ridge line, the squad reinforced by the entire platoon pushed the enemy forces ahead of them, securing their objective. Sergeant Branham’s resolute gallantry and calm courage reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.