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 Charles W. Caruth (ASN: RA-54020815), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 6 July 1952, near Sangwan, Ni, Korea, a patrol from Company K was passing a Company I held outpost when the entire area was brought under an intense enemy artillery and mortar barrage. Sensing that the bombardment was preparatory to a hostile ground assault, the patrol was ordered to move into the perimeter of the outpost and set up defensive positions. Sergeant Caruth, the assistant platoon sergeant of the Company K patrol, set up positions which were to bear the brunt of the attack. Immediately after the barrage lifted an estimated enemy company made a fanatical charge through holes they had made in the barbed wire defenses during the artillery bombardment. As the enemy stormed the outer trenches Sergeant Caruth personally accounted for one enemy casualty in hand-to-hand combat but the overwhelming number of the foe forced the friendly troops to vacate the outer defenses. The enemy tried repeatedly to drive on to the inner defenses but were successfully repulsed as the friendly troops held tenaciously to their positions. Reorganizing his men, Sergeant Caruth led them in a ferocious assault on the foe, moving about the withering fire shouting words of encouragement to his men and directing their fire until the hostile troops were routed from the outer trenches. Observing that the gunner and assistant gunner of an advantageously located machine gun had been wounded, Sergeant Caruth continued to expose himself as he moved across the fire-swept terrain to the side of the wounded men and, after supervising their evacuation, manned the weapon and began laying down a withering fusillade of fire on the enemy. Sergeant Caruth’s outstanding gallantry and inspirational leadership were an important factor in the safe defense of the outpost and reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.