The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Sergeant Charles P. Mersing (ASN: RA-13276559), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy near Yoju, Korea, on 23 January 1951. When an element of his company was patrolling in advance of our main line of resistance, a numerically superior enemy force began to surround the patrol and place heavy automatic weapons and small arms fire on them. The patrol leaders ordered a withdrawal. Sergeant Mersing and four other members of the patrol failed to hear the order and remained behind still engaging the enemy in a fire fight as the rest of the patrol withdrew to friendly lines. When he became aware that the rest of the patrol had withdrawn he moved the four men onto high ground and continued to place accurate small arms fire on the enemy. Realizing that they were hopelessly outnumbered he ordered the four men to withdraw while he remained behind to cover them. He moved to a new position and successfully kept the enemy at bay by astounding accuracy with his rifle. In his own descent from the hill, he managed to break off contact with the enemy and returned to friendly lines. His expert marksmanship was responsible for killing several enemy and he was instrumental in directing the combined fire of the four men which resulted in the killing of twenty-four others. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Sergeant Mersing, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.