The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Jack P. Speed (ASN: US-53086807), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, in action on 4 November 1951, in the vicinity of Kumwha, Korea. When the unit commander was seriously wounded during the infiltration of the enemy’s first line of defense at an outpost, Sergeant Speed immediately assumed command. With fortitude and determination, he rallied the raiders of his unit and led them in charge after charge through intense enemy gun fire, and into the enemy’s second line of defense. In one bold charge, he succeeded in knocking out the machine gun at the enemy’s key strong point and personally annihilated a great number of the enemy troops. Although he was wounded in the stomach during this action, he refused evacuation and continued with the mission of mopping up the enemy positions, directing the raiders’ gun fire, and assisting his fellow soldiers in reaching the objective. Sergeant Speed’s conspicuous gallantry is in the highest traditions of the United States Army and reflects great credit upon himself and the military services.