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 Fidel C. Loza (ASN: RA-39275950), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters and Service Company, 72d Tank Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 10 November 1950, in the vicinity of Aech’Chong, Korea. On this date Sergeant Loza was the lead scout of a reconnaissance platoon reinforcing a reconnaissance company which had the mission of screening the right flank of an infantry division. The platoon had halted deep in enemy occupied territory, and was turning around in a narrow crooked corridor when it was placed under automatic weapons fire by an estimated reinforced platoon of enemy. The enemy was delivering a heavy volume of fire from the front and flank from their entrenched positions on the high ground at a range of 50 yards. Sergeant Loza, perceiving that his platoon was being threatened with serious damage from the enemy’s automatic weapons, organized his 3-man section into an assaulting force and, with fixed bayonets, led his men in a charge through the enemy fire with such violence and ferocity that he eliminated two enemy automatic weapons, killed one or the enemy, and captured an enemy commissioned officer. Sergeant Loza’s gallant action in charging an enemy who was in a prepared position undoubtedly saved many of his comrades and reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.