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 J. D. Charles (ASN: RA-20816427), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of Battery A, 11th Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division, in action on 20 July 1950, near Taejon, Korea. Corporal Charles unit while supporting the 34th Infantry Regiment became completely surrounded by the enemy. The battery position was taken under heavy enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire which made it necessary for him to seek a place of shelter. After reaching a place of safety behind a building, he heard the moan of a wounded soldier. With complete disregard for his own safety and under heavy automatic weapons fire, Corporal Charles ran about seventy five yards to where the wounded soldier was lying. Upon seeing that he could not be moved without a stretcher he returned to the building and tore off a door, and returned. After putting the wounded man on the make-shift stretcher, he dragged him back to the shelter of the building and had him removed to the aid station. The act of gallantry displayed by Corporal Charles reflects high credit on himself and the military service.