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 Wayne E. Dienhart (ASN: RA-19372348), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 19 May 1951, in the vicinity of Pungchon-ni, Korea. On that date Company L was in a defensive position when the enemy penetrated through a friendly unit on the flank and exposed the company to encirclement. The fourth platoon, in which Private Dienhart was serving as a runner, was cut off from the company and completely surrounded by the enemy who proceeded to deliver an intense and deadly fire into the platoon position from all sides. Private Dienhart, realizing that it was imperative that the, company be notified of this perilous situation in order to relieve the platoon from encirclement, immediately moved out through the enemy lines and toward the company command post, when snipers picked him up and brought him under fire. Impelled by the importance of his mission and completely ignoring the enemy fire, Private Dienhart succeeded in reaching the command post and guiding the company in a successful attack against the enemy positions around the fourth platoon. This caused the enemy to withdraw and released the platoon from a serious situation. The gallantry displayed by Private Dienhart reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.