The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Vernon Joseph Church (ASN: RA-19291889), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the Heavy Mortar Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 30 November 1950 in the vicinity of Kunu-ri, Korea. On that date he was riding in a convoy which was attempting to break through an enemy road block that was approximately five miles in depth. The convoy was halted by intense enemy automatic weapons fire, which made further progress impossible. With no thought for his personal safety or the heavy enemy fire striking about him, Private Church unloaded a mortar from a trailer and assisted a group of men in placing it in position. After setting up the mortar, he made six trips to another trailer and brought back two boxes of ammunition each trip. In between these trips he aided the men in preparing the ammunition for firing. As he started back for his seventh time, he was wounded by hostile machine gun fire. His gallant and inspiring actions enabled the mortar crew to destroy an enemy machine gun position and mark two more for destruction by the Air Force. The gallantry displayed by Private Church on this occasion reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.