The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Master Sergeant Richard Aguayo (ASN: RA-12156292), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 16 September 1950 in the vicinity of Changnyong, Korea. Company L, which had launched an attack against well-entrenched enemy positions, was halted by intense enemy fire. Sergeant Aguayo, disregarding the heavy fire, led his men in an assault upon hostile machine gun positions. The first attempt was unsuccessful due to the heavy volume of machine gun and sniper fire directed on the squad. In the course of the action, he exposed himself constantly in order to maneuver his squad into more favorable positions. When his squad was pinned down by the heavy enemy fire, he single-handedly assaulted an enemy gun position and killed three of its crew with rifle fire. The gallantry displayed by Sergeant Aguayo reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.