The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant [then Private First Class] Samuel Hodges, Jr. (ASN: RA-14363729), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 23 June 1951, Sergeant Hodges was in charge of the machine gun section attached to an assaulting rifle platoon, whose mission of assaulting the western slope of Hill 717 near Segok, Korea, necessitated moving across a cut through a ridge. As the platoon crossed this open area it came under intense automatic weapons fire which temporarily halted their advance but Sergeant Hodges immediately led his section across the exposed area and upon reaching a suitable position the section received direct fire from an enemy machine gun located in a bunker higher on the same ridge. Sergeant Hodges realizing that this enemy machine gun must be destroyed in order to lift the pressure on the assaulting platoon, led an assault upon the enemy’s position knocking it out and silencing the fire which allowed the section to continue forward to relieve the beleaguered assault platoon. Sergeant Hodges’ intelligent and aggressive utilization of his section greatly enhanced the maneuverability of the rifle units and was largely responsible for the success of the operation. Sergeant Hodges’ gallantry and leadership reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.