The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Paul E. Gurchie (ASN: RA-15271133), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against the enemy on 3 September 1950, near Waegwan, Korea. As his platoon moved to a friendly company’s area with flame throwers to be used in an attack the following morning, a numerically superior hostile force launched an attack that forced the company to withdraw. Private Gurchie positioned himself behind a .50 caliber machine gun that had been vacated by withdrawing troops and continued to move the gun forward to support a counterattack. When his gun became overheated and failed to fire, Private Gurchie, ignoring the volume of enemy fire, continued to advance, throwing hand grenades and firing his carbine. Reaching the original positions that had been held by friendly troops, Private Gurchie manned another machine gun to pour heavy fire at the retreating enemy, inflicting heavy losses. Private Gurchie’s courageous actions and conspicuous devotion to duty contributed materially to routing the enemy and reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.