The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant James H. Alston (ASN: RA-44167023), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Battery, 503d Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 30 November 1950 in the vicinity of Kunu-ri, Korea. In order to avoid envelopment by numerically superior enemy forces, Sergeant Alston’s battalion was withdrawing through a series of hostile fire blocks. The motorized column was halted by intense enemy automatic weapons, mortar, and small arms fire and the personnel had dismounted to seek cover. Although the area was illuminated by a burning vehicle Sergeant Alston dashed to his truck, secured a 3.5-inch rocket launcher and ammunition and assumed a firing position completely exposed to the hostile fire raking the terrain. With a well-aimed round he destroyed an enemy machine gun. He then shifted his fire to other positions, forcing the enemy to scatter and withdraw. When the column moved out, he manned a machine gun mounted on his vehicle, until the convoy was once more halted at a blocked bridge. From commanding terrain overlooking the road, the enemy poured such vicious fire into the halted vehicles that the personnel were ordered to dismount and to proceed across the river on foot. Before leaving the area, Sergeant Alston located a vehicle in operating condition, loaded fourteen wounded soldiers aboard and proceeded to a medical clearing station where the wounded received medical attention. The gallantry displayed by Sergeant Alston reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.