The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class James S. Deffendoll (ASN: ER-16310249), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company H, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 24 May 1951, in the vicinity of Inje, Korea. On that day the machine gun platoon of Company H was supporting a friendly unit attacking a well-entrenched enemy force on Hill 895. When one of the machine guns developed a leak in the steam condensing tube, Private Deffendoll, with complete disregard for personal safety, took a five gallon lister bag and ran down into the valley through intense enemy mortar and small arms fire to fill the bag with water. As he started back up the hill, the defective machine gun ceased firing. This caused the attacking friendly unit to lose ground. Private Deffendoll pushed on up the slope and upon reaching the gun, filled it with the water for which he had risked his life. The machine gun then resumed its deadly fire, pinning down the enemy troops and allowing the friendly unit to advance and to regain the lost ground. Private Deffendoll’s gallantry reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.