The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Arthur M. Clarke (ASN: 0-737729), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, on 20 July 1950 near Taejon, Korea. When withdrawing from Taejon with elements of the 34th Infantry Regiment, the motor column which Lieutenant Clarke was accompanying came under intense enemy machine gun fire which destroyed the leading vehicles and halted the column. The entire column was then brought under intense enemy automatic weapons fire which caused numerous casualties. Lieutenant Clarke with complete disregard of his own safety removed several of the wounded to places of relative safety. Later he organized and led a group of soldiers over thirty-five miles of enemy infested and mountainous terrain to rejoin their units. The group of men he led carried a wounded soldier over this distance, despite the fact that this action delayed their withdrawal and endangered their safety. During the course of these acts Lieutenant Clarke was wounded. The gallant act displayed by Lieutenant Clarke reflects great credit on himself and the Military Service.