The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Claude N. Keith (ASN: ER-13292261), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery A, 37th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 18 May 1951, at Chaun-ni, Korea. Corporal Keith was a driver for a forward observer party. The enemy had penetrated the entire defensive lines of the regiment and had formed a road block across the only road exit. The order was given to abandon the vehicles. Corporal Keith assembled all the forward observer vehicles and under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire, reconnoitered a vehicle route across the river and through the hills to a position of defilade. The initiative and coolness in the face of the rapidly advancing enemy displayed by Corporal Keith was instrumental in saving several lives and several vehicles. The heroism and leadership displayed by Corporal Keith on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.