The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Winthrop P. Eldridge (ASN: US-51093374), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On the night of 11 December 1951, a patrol from Company B was assigned the mission of assaulting enemy positions near Kumchok-tong, Korea, and capturing a prisoner. As the assault units approached their objectives Corporal Eldridge, a machine gunner who was providing covering fire, observed the enemy attempting to surround the friendly troops. With devastatingly accurate fire he killed three of the hostile soldiers and injured many more. He continued his deadly covering fire until the prisoner had been captured and the order was given to withdraw. As he withdrew, Corporal Eldridge observed a man seriously wounded and lying in a rice paddy unable to move back. Disregarding the pleas of the wounded man that he would only endanger the patrol’s chance of reaching safety, Corporal Eldridge picked the man up and carried him the long distance over the treacherous terrain to friendly lines, but just as they reached aid, the man died. Although he was greatly fatigued, Corporal Eldridge returned to the area of the patrol action to aid another comrade whom he had observed lying on the ground. The foe set up an ambush over the man’s body, but heedless of the enemy fire, he proceeded to the body to assure himself that the man was dead. Corporal Eldridge’s gallant and untiring devotion to duty in trying to save the lives of fellow soldiers reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.