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 Raymond C. Atherton (ASN: ER-16266975), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company B, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 10 February 1951 in the vicinity of Sangsok, Korea. Company B had launched an attack against strongly fortified enemy positions on Hill 412. During the advance, heavy fire from an enemy machine gun pinned down the right flank of the company. Corporal Atherton, disregarding the withering fire which the enemy was pouring into the area, crawled forward to a vulnerable position 50 feet from the hostile emplacement. He then engaged the enemy machine gun with his automatic rifle and destroyed the position, thus preventing serious casualties from theirbeing inflicted upon his comrades. The gallantry displayed by Corporal Atherton reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.