The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Field Artillery) Phillips Melzer (ASN: 0-1046567), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 3d Infantry Division. On 16 December 1951, in a night assault on a strategic hill mass near Kyeho-dong, Korea, a patrol of the Belgium United Nations Command was subjected to an intense enemy mortar and artillery bombardment. Captain Melzer, flying in an unarmed liaison type aircraft at altitudes ranging from 100 to 1000 feet over rugged mountainous terrain, located the hostile mortar emplacements and, with utter disregard for his own personal safety continued flying at extremely low altitudes adjusting artillery fire until the enemy mortars were silenced. While adjusting the devastating counter-battery fire he was under intense automatic-weapons and small-arms fire but, undaunted he continued his hazardous tasks and did not hesitate to fly as far as 10,000 yards behind enemy lines to pinpoint hostile positions for friendly artillery. Captain Melzer’s gallantry reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.