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 [then Corporal] Jesse Combs (ASN: RA-34634406), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 29 November 1950, Sergeant Combs’ unit was escorting a convoy returning from Tongyang to Majon-ni, Korea, when it was ambushed by well dug-in and well camouflaged guerrillas. Sergeant Combs, noticing that a machine gun was not operational, immediately exposed himself to deadly fire to run to the assistance of the gunner. Successfully placing the gun in operation, he proceeded through devastating small arms and automatic weapons fire, under continual enemy observation, to a truck, to recover a mortar and to place it in operation. Braving intense enemy fire, he crawled a distance of twenty five yards and returned with needed ammunition for the mortar. Despite the heavy small arms and automatic fire Sergeant Combs went to the aid of wounded soldiers and assisted in placing them on a vehicle for evacuation. While doing so he was wounded but continued to fire his weapon until his unit was ordered to withdraw. The gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Combs reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.