The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Armor) Virgil McGee (ASN: 0-1019535), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 64th Heavy Tank Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 1 July 1951, C Company’s Fourth Platoon was the leading element of a task force driving deeply into enemy territory near Tuchon-ni, Korea, with the mission of protecting the right flank of the 7th Infantry Regiment. After advancing about five miles into hostile country, the column reached a valley, through which flowed the Hant’an River, that had to be crossed in order that the unit might gain its objective. The task force had met some enemy opposition previous to its attempted crossing of the river, but at this point it encountered a heavy concentration of hostile fire. To cover and facilitate the passage, Lieutenant McGee immediately forged ahead to high ground in the vicinity overlooking the valley, only to be beaten back twice by furious enemy resistance. This maneuver thwarted, he then personally chose to spearhead the fording of the river and the valley, but as he sought a suitable spot to move across the river, his tank struck a mine and was disabled. Dismounting and leaving himself unprotected to the severe hostile fire, he guided two other tanks in several futile attempts to retrieve the damaged vehicle. Finding recovery impossible, Lieutenant McGee calmly directed the removal of all secret equipment from the tank, thus stripping it of value to the enemy. He then continued to place telling counterfire upon the hostile positions enabling the remainder of the task force to accomplish the mission. Lieutenant McGee’s resourceful leadership and personal gallantry reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.