The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Warrant Officer Junior Grade Ralph Windom (ASN: W-2141499), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 15 January 1951, Company C was pinned down by intense enemy mortar and small arms fire while entering the town of Kumyangjang-ni, Korea. Warrant Officer Windom, unit administrator, seeing the desperate plight of one platoon which had advanced well into the town and was completely cut off by enemy fire, voluntarily moved through the hail of fire and assumed command in the absence of a platoon leader. Deploying the platoon, he then continued to expose himself as he led supporting tanks into firing positions and pointed out targets. When the combined firepower of his platoon and the tanks failed to rout the hostile forces and he was unable to make radio contact with the artillery forward observer, Warrant Officer Windom made his way over the six hundred yards of open terrain to the forward observer’s post and personally pointed out enemy positions. On returning to his unit, he spotted a group of enemy soldiers on the flank of his platoon. Climbing onto a tank, he utilized an unmanned machine gun and succeeded in killing four and causing the rest to withdraw. When the requested artillery fell upon the enemy and they began to retreat, Warrant Officer Windom directed effective fire against the enemy inflicting many casualties. The gallantry, initiative, and leadership displayed by Warrant Officer Windom reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.