Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Field Artillery)

    Batallion:

    11th Field Artillery Battalion

    Division:

    24th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    July 19, 1950

    Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 69, (August 5, 1950)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Field Artillery) Paul E. Alban (ASN: 0-23500), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters, 11th Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, on 19 July 1950 at Taejon, Korea. The 11th Field Artillery was in Taejon with a mission of directly supporting an Infantry unit. The town had been completely surrounded by the enemy and was under assault by his tanks and infantry. Intense small arms and mortar fire was being directed at anything within the town that moved. In the face of such obstacles, Major Alban, seeing that no escape route remained open for the Battalion, voluntarily organized and directed a detail with gathered the bodies of the dead, arranged for the evacuation of the wounded, cleared the road of wrecked vehicles and other debris and otherwise completed preparations for the withdrawal of the Battalion. By his cool and inspiring leadership Major Alban enabled his Battalion to withdraw from an extremely difficult situation with a minimum of casualties and loss of equipment. He brought great credit on himself and to the military service.