The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Ira J. Goen (ASN: 0-2021066), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery A, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 19 August 1951, Company F of the 65th Infantry Regiment and a small artillery forward observer team were engaged in the task of clearing the enemy from a valley sector near Chorwon, Korea. Lieutenant Goen, in charge of the artillery observation group, set up a post on F Company’s right front and began communication with the rear; then the enemy attacked and killed the company’s radio operator and destroyed his radio. The hostile soldiers, infiltrating among the friendly troops, concentrated fire upon the radio area; but Lieutenant Goen, disregarding his personal safety, defended the position and directed infantry fire, inflicting many casualties on the enemy. When through sheer weight of numbers the hostile troops forced the company to withdraw, Lieutenant Goen voluntarily covered the displacement with a small rearguard of four men, personally accounting for seven of the foe in a point-blank engagement. The gallantry and leadership displayed by Lieutenant Goen reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.