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 (Infantry) Aulbry C. Hitchings (ASN: 0-1298230), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 3 September 1950 in the vicinity of Changnyong, Korea. On that date, he was a forward observer for his company’s 60-mm. mortars. At approximately 2000 hours, Company E came under a severe attack from a numerically superior enemy force. During the attack, in spite of the heavy and accurate small arms fire directed at him, he moved from one exposed position to another, observing and directing the fire of his mortars. Although he was constantly subjected to intense enemy small arms fire, he continued to direct the mortar fire until the enemy attack was repulsed. Lieutenant Hitchings’ gallantry and indifference to his personal safety were determining factors in causing the enemy’s defeat on this occasion, and fully upheld the finest traditions of the military service.