The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Angel Escribano Aponte (ASN: 0-1685755), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 2d Battalion, 65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 4 June 1951, near Sanjan-ni, Korea, the enemy launched a strong counterattack, supported by mortar and machine gun fire against defensive positions being occupied by Company E. The First Platoon, commanded by Lieutenant Escribano-Aponte, in forward positions approximately 200 yards in front of the main line of resistance, was virtually surrounded by the assaulting hostile troops. Lieutenant Escribano-Aponte, to keep from being completely cut-off, ordered his unit to fight their way back to the company perimeter. After the majority of the platoon had reached the company area, Lieutenant Escribano-Aponte and a small group of enlisted men still in the original positions were savagely attacked by the foe. Carefully utilizing their dwindling supply of ammunition, the valiant officer and his men held, stubbornly refusing to be overcome by the enemy. Deciding to attempt an escape, Lieutenant Escribano-Aponte and his small band, after killing a number of hostile soldiers with a volley of hand grenades and forcing others to retreat, moved out toward their company’s positions. They had gone only a short distance when 4 enemy soldiers attacked Lieutenant Escribano-Aponte with knives. Fighting back, he killed two of them with the butt of a disabled automatic rifle, while his men eliminated the last two. Lieutenant Escribano-Aponte’s courageous and inspiring gallantry enabled him and his men to make a successful withdrawal and reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.