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] Charles W. Covington (ASN: US-52085266), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company I, 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. During the early morning hours of 25 November 1952, a squad of Company I, 3d Battalion, of which Sergeant Covington was a machine gunner, was defending its positions on “Jackson Heights”, in the vicinity of Hak Tong-Ni, Korea. When an intense barrage of hostile mortar fire inflicted wounds on the members of the squad, the friendly elements regrouped at the base of the hill. Discovering that his assistant machine gunner was still on the objective, Sergeant Covington returned to the hostile area and evacuated the man to a position of safety. Upon being given the order to retake the hill, Sergeant Covington, realizing that his machine gun and ammunition were vital to the success of the assault, again exposed himself to the barrage and made two trips to his former position, retrieving the equipment. He then joined the assault and effectively fired his weapon until a hostile mortar round exploded near him, rendering his machine gun inoperative and wounding him. As a result of Sergeant Covington’s inspirational action, his men repulsed the enemy and retook the objective. Sergeant Covington’s outstanding gallantry, initiative and devotion to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.