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 Charles E. Hodges (ASN: RA-14217072), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 24 June 1951, the enemy attacked friendly lines near Sobangsan, Korea, utilizing a heavy volume of fire power in the assault. Sergeant Hodges left his covered position and moving through the vicious hostile fire to each foxhole, he encouraged the troops and directed automatic weapons fire on the enemy attempting to penetrate the perimeter. During the action, seeing that a machine gun crew had been knocked out of action by a bursting grenade, Sergeant Hodges crawled to the emplacement and opened fire on the foe, inflicting many casualties. Remaining in this hazardous spot until all the ammunition had been expended, he worked his way from the forward position, laboriously dragging the weapon to a place where it could not fall into enemy hands. After removing the machine gun to safety, Sergeant Hodges obtained a rifle and moved forward, remaining behind to cover the company’s withdrawal. Sergeant Hodges’ courage and gallant aggressiveness reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.