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 Raymond F. Flaherty (ASN: RA-31504539), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 3d Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On the night of 12 August 1952, Company L, 3d Battalion, of which Sergeant Flaherty was a member was assigned the mission of assaulting a hostile position near Chokko-Ri, Korea, and capturing a prisoner for intelligence purposes. Upon reaching the objective, the assault group was subjected to hostile automatic weapons and grenade fire. During the ensuing fire fight an enemy grenade landed near a friendly automatic rifleman. Sergeant Flaherty quickly threw himself in front of the grenade thereby preventing serious injury to his automatic rifleman. Although receiving a serious facial wound and bleeding profusely, Sergeant Flaherty continued to lead his men into the hostile trenches. Only after his men secured the objective did Sergeant Flaherty submit to being evacuated. Sergeant Flaherty’s outstanding gallantry, initiative and devotion to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.