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 Julius L. Cunningham (ASN: RA-39596381), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 503d Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 26 November 1950 in the vicinity of Kunu-ri, Korea. During the powerful offensive launched by enemy forces in that area, Sergeant Cunningham observed eight soldiers, some of whom were wounded, on the far bank of a wide and ice-bound river shouting for help. Finding a boat, he smashed his way across the river through the ice and began to embark the group. At that moment enemy machine guns found their range and three of the soldiers fell mortally wounded. Undaunted by the intense fire striking about him, he calmly supervised the remaining five, returned to the relative safety of the friendly shore whence he led the men to his battalion aid station. The gallantry displayed by Sergeant Cunningham in risking almost certain death to save his comrades reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.