Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Captain (Field Artillery)

    Batallion:

    37th Field Artillery Battalion

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    March 15, 1951

    Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 304 (July 17, 1951)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery) Lloyd G. Highsmith (ASN: 0-1166740), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Battery, 37th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 15 March 1951, at Yudong-ni, Korea. Captain Highsmith was the artillery Liaison Officer with the 3d Battalion of the 38th Infantry Regiment. The 38th Infantry Regiment was attacking a roadblock of approximately two battalions of enemy troops. The enemy was well dug in and had command of the high ground surrounding the road, and was tenaciously clinging to his positions. Captain Highsmith was advancing up the road with the battalion command post personnel when they came under heavy mortar, machine gun and small arms fire. At the same time he heard one of his forward observers trying to contact the fire direction center for a fire mission. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Captain Highsmith, with complete disregard for his personal safety, exposed himself to the intense small arms, machine gun and mortar fire, contacted the forward observer through a radio mounted on an infantry jeep, and relayed the fire mission to the battalion fire direction center. Throughout the entire mission he remained at his position, unwilling to leave the radio, although enemy bullets were piercing the sides of the jeep and mortar rounds were exploding all around. The gallantry displayed by Captain Highsmith on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.