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 Zane L. Franz (ASN: RA-15299227), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 2 July 1951, near Sabong-song, Korea, Sergeant Franz was leading his squad in an attack on a series of well-entrenched enemy positions, when it became subjected to heavy enemy fire. Realizing the importance of seizing the objective as soon as possible, Sergeant Franz, braving the deadly automatic weapons’ fire, alone charged the nearest enemy emplacement and throwing accurately placed grenades into the position, killed five of the enemy. He then returned to his squad and ordered it to withdraw, because of the large number of hostile troops opposing it, and in order to evacuate the wounded. As the evacuation was progressing, a hail of enemy bullets forced the squad to take cover. Again, Sergeant Franz, single-handedly, attacked the enemy position and with his devastating rifle and grenade fire forced the enemy troops to remain immobile in their entrenchments, giving the squad the opportunity to withdraw. After his unit had reached safety, Sergeant Franz began to withdraw but was seriously wounded by a bursting grenade. Determined to reach the company perimeter, he laboriously crawled some distance to a covered position where he was rescued by medical aidmen. Sergeant Franz’s spirit of gallant and courageous determination reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.