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 First Class Freddie L. Croxton (ASN: RA-14248157), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 64th Heavy Tank Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 18 September 1951, Sergeant Croxton’s tank struck a mine near Hat-o-Dong, Korea, during the battalion’s thrust into enemy territory in conjunction with Operation “Cleanup”. As the armored column was under intense enemy fire, the company commander ordered the tank abandoned and a slight withdrawal made. Dismounting from the disabled vehicle, Sergeant Croxton inspected the damage and, reporting that the vehicle could be repaired in several hours, requested permission to begin the task. Granted permission, Sergeant Croxton, with heroic disregard for the incessant mortar and artillery fire falling around him, labored for three hours on the twisted wreckage of the track, at the end of which time the tank was moved under its own power back to friendly lines. The gallant initiative and courage displayed by Sergeant Croxton denied the enemy the capture of a valuable piece of equipment and reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.