The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Peter Hamilton, Jr. (ASN: 0-962774), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the 3d Ranger Infantry Company (Airborne), 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 11 April 1951, after clearing the village of Kantonghyoo, Korea, the first platoon, of which Lieutenant Hamilton was leader, was pinned down by intense hostile small arms and machine gun fire while attacking a well-defended enemy hill. With no regard for his own safety, Lieutenant Hamilton directed the movements of his platoon through withering fire and, although wounded by an exploding shell, courageously shouted to his men, “I’ve got a cluster to my Purple Heart. They can’t hurt you.” When an enemy machine gun halted the progress of the attack, he unhesitatingly exposed himself in order to direct tank fire until the machine gun position was effectively silenced. Despite receiving a second wound from an enemy grenade, Lieutenant Hamilton led an inspired bayonet assault on the enemy entrenchments, and his platoon accounted for approximately seventeen enemy dead and captured one prisoner. The exceptional gallantry and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Hamilton reflect great credit upon himself and exemplify the high traditions of the military service.