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 Bernard P. McKenna (ASN: RA-13252885), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of Medical Company, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against the enemy on 15 September 1950 near Taegu, Korea. At dawn, when the enemy had infiltrated Company I’s position on Hill 174 and launched an intense grenade attack on the company’s command post, Private McKenna, attached as Medical Aid Man to the company, heard cries for aid from every quarters. With conspicuous devotion to duty and selfless disregard for his own safety, he moved through the furious close-in fighting to locate and treat many wounded. When he had dressed a man’s wound, Private McKenna would prop the man up and give him his weapon, enabling the man to continue to defend his position. He removed the more seriously wounded to occupied foxholes for protection. Not a man was wounded to whom Private McKenna did not give prompt and efficient medical aid. Wounded in the arm, Private McKenna continued to treat another man’s wound while his own was being dressed. A moment later, he received multiple back wounds from a grenade burst that knocked him down. Crawling into a foxhole, Private McKenna, despite considerable pain, continued to direct the treatment of the wounded until the company commander ordered his evacuation. Private McKenna’s conspicuous gallantry and selfless devotion to duty greatly contributed in saving many lives and reflected great credit upon himself and his actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.