(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: 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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Barnard Cummings, Jr. (ASN: 0-59420), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as a Platoon Leader with the 8th Army Ranger Company (Airborne), 8213th Army Unit, in action against the enemy in North Korea, from 24 to 26 November 1950. Assigned to Task Force DOLVIN, First Lieutenant Cummings platoon led the company attack and immediately came under enemy fire. First Lieutenant Cummings quickly led his men from the middle of a frozen rice paddy to a covered position where they could support the advance of the first platoon. Four rounds from an enemy tank knocked out an assault section, one-third of the platoon, as First Lieutenant Cummings moved from man to man, exhorting them to greater efforts int heir attempt to destroy the enemy. It was only by his leadership and personal example that he was able to extricate his platoon from its position, and, with the first platoon, which had now joined him, continue to the company objective. The following day the Ranger company, supported by a tank platoon, was again called upon to lead the assault of the Task Force. The tanks transported the company to the tank platoon firing position. Eight hundred yards of open rice paddy lay ahead and immediately the Chinese opened up with heavy small arms and mortar fire. Again, First Lieutenant Cummings was in the forefront of the assault, encouraging his men by his personal heroic example. Hill 205 fell to the Ranger Company around 1500 on 25 November 1950, and the company reorganized and commenced to dig in, in an effort to brace itself against the expected counterattacks. Shortly after they had secured the objective, the friendly troops repulsed a series of five fanatical counterattacks, in which the enemy came to within grenade-throwing distance of the company perimeter. Throughout this action, First Lieutenant Cummings, with utter fearlessness, constantly exposed himself to enemy fire as he left his position of relative safety to move about among his men, shouting words of encouragement and directing their fire. Despite the fact that the onrushing enemy were almost upon his position, First Lieutenant Cummings refused to withdraw, and when last seen was providing covering fire for his men. The gallantry and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Cummings throughout this action reflect great credit on himself and the military service.