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 First Class [then Sergeant] Cecil L. Jarman (ASN: RA-18294538), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 18 May 1951, in the vicinity of Chaun-ni, Korea. On that date he was a member of an infantry unit which was under heavy attack by an overwhelming enemy force. When he learned that the enemy was threatening to overrun the battalion command post, Sergeant Jarman immediately organized a squad consisting of cooks and drivers, and personally led them to a forward position. Deploying the squad into effective blocking positions, he skillfully directed their fire and aided in inflicting such heavy casualties that the enemy was forced to withdraw. When the enemy regrouped and returned for an all out assault in greater numbers, Sergeant Jarman, undeterred by the rampaging enemy, crawled from one position to another urging and encouraging his men to hold until the enemy was again forced to withdraw with heavy casualties. When his squad was ordered to return to the area of the command post they were suddenly subjected to intense machine gun fire. Without regard for his personal safety, Sergeant Jarman moved forward to a point from which he was able to destroy the enemy emplacement with a hand grenade. The gallant conduct displayed by Sergeant Jarman reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.