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), [then First Lieutenant Paul F. Hopkins (ASN: 0-2019744), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Battery, 503d Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 27 September 1950 in the vicinity of Hyopchon, Korea. On the night of that date Captain Hopkins, pilot of an L-16 aircraft, was returning from a reconnaissance flight over enemy lines. The liaison officer of a rifle battalion contacted him by radio and informed him that the battalion had been ambushed. Although it was getting dark and Captain Hopkins’ aircraft was not equipped for night flying, he voluntarily returned over the enemy lines in an effort to locate hostile artillery pieces which were in defilade to ground observers. Having located the enemy emplacements, Captain Hopkins continued to fly over the positions, in spite of intense hostile automatic weapons and small arms fire which by now was directed at him, and fully realizing that if his aircraft were disabled while flying at a low altitude he would not be able to glide to friendly lines. His heroic action made it possible for the air observer with him to adjust artillery fire upon three enemy artillery batteries and enemy troops. As a result of the fire, all enemy artillery positions were neutralized and approximately two companies of enemy infantry were dispersed. The gallantry displayed on this occasion by Captain Hopkins reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.