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 Fred L. Armstrong (ASN: RA-17239674), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy near Majon-Ri, Korea, on 29 November 1950. Corporal Armstrong was an assistant gunner of a 60-mm. mortar squad, which was on a combat patrol, when the patrol was ambushed by heavy enemy fire, a jeep mounted .50 caliber machine gun jammed. Leaving his own position of cover, under continuous fire, and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, he vainly tried to place the machine gun in position. He then procured a submachine gun from the vehicle and under cover of his own fire made his way approximately 50 yards along the exposed road to a position in the rear of a tank. From this position of observation on the enemy, utilizing the outside phone, he directed fire of the tank weapons, thereby inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and greatly reducing the volume of enemy fire. The gallantry displayed by Corporal Armstrong in the face of enemy fire reflects great credit upon himself and upon the military service.