Headquarters, 24th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 284 (April 7, 1951)
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Adolph Damish (ASN: 0-2017213), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company M, 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Sesim-ni, Korea, on 4 February 1951. His battalion was moving south to regain contact with friendly forces when it became apparent that the troops would have to run a gauntlet of enemy fire from three directions. Captain Damish gathered all available men in his company headquarters group and placed them on a ridge overlooking the action and took the enemy under fire. He further directed the fire of his mortars on enemy machine guns and riflemen. In order to effectively adjust this fire he exposed himself to a heavy volume of enemy machine gun and mortar fire. At the moment when this covering fire was most needed the enemy moved two machine guns to high ground and took the company under fire from the left rear. Without hesitation he personally crept forward in the face of withering machine gun fire with one of his machine guns and silenced the enemy fire. Captain Demish’s courageous actions and superior combat leadership contributed immeasurably to the battalion’s successful withdrawal. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Captain Damish, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.