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 Corporal] Mitchell S. McPherson (ASN: RA-18338061), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 8th Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against the enemy on 26 July 1950, near Yong Dong, Korea. Sergeant First Class McPherson’s platoon had prepared a bridge and a highway section for demolition. Infiltrating enemy elements cut the wires to the demolition charges during the early morning. While the wires were being reconnected, the blasting machine came under heavy enemy machine gun fire. Sergeant First Class McPherson and two comrades, with complete disregard for their own safety, moved the machine under heavy mortar fire to a more tenable position and reconnected the wires for a second time. The bridge and highway section were then demolished, greatly retarding the advance of the enemy. Sergeant First Class McPherson’s gallant action reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.