The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal [then Private First Class] Ward E. Owens (ASN: RA-15412869), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, in action on 23 July 1950, near Yongdong, Korea. Corporal Owens, along with three other men, volunteered to remain in an exposed position under enemy artillery and mortar shelling throughout the night to operate a daisy chain of anti-tank mines should enemy tanks attack. One enemy tank was disabled by the mines. With complete disregard for their own safety, Corporal Owens and a companion attacked the halted tank with hand grenades, silencing its guns and killing its crew. Corporal Owens’ gallant action reflected great credit upon himself and the military service.