The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Donald A. Houser (ASN: RA-13346779), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 1 September 1950 in the vicinity of Mojon-Ni, Korea. On that date, while the assistant gunner of a rocket launcher team for a rifle platoon, he was assigned the mission of maintaining observation over an enemy-held village which his platoon was about to by-pass. Upon accomplishment of its movement, his platoon received enemy fire from the village to its rear. Without hesitation, Private Houser, with his gunner, moved into the village. With complete indifference for personal safety, he continuously exposed himself to intense enemy small arms fire and assisting in the use of the 3.5 rocket launcher killed 11 enemy soldiers, burning and destroying most of the village. By his courage and determination he accomplished a mission normally assigned to a much larger force. The intrepid gallantry displayed by Private Houser on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and fully upholds the finest traditions of the military service.