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 First Class [then Sergeant] Arthur Banks (ASN: ER-44002561), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 22 May 1951, in the vicinity of Hasolch, Korea. On that date he was a squad leader in a platoon attacking enemy positions on Hill 278. The numerically superior enemy pinned down the platoon with fire from a well emplaced machine gun. With complete disregard for the intense enemy fire, Sergeant Banks led his squad in an attack on the enemy positions, personally destroying the machine gun and killing ten of the enemy soldiers. His heroic actions enabled the remainder of the platoon to advance and secure the objective. Sergeant Banks’ gallantry reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.