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 (Infantry), [then First Lieutenant] Harley F. Mooney (ASN: 0-1341181), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 23 April 1951, near Chogan-ni, Korea, Captain Mooney’s company was engaged in an assault operation with the mission of extracting the Belgian Battalion which had been cut-off and separated from the 29th Independent British Brigade. After Company A had crossed the line of departure, Captain Mooney, as commanding officer, sent one of his platoons to clear a small hill mass to his right front but as the platoon moved toward the crest of the hill it was attacked without warning by a numerically superior enemy force. The incoming enemy fire was so intense that the platoon was forced to disperse and seek cover, becoming pinned down and unable to maintain the advance. Realizing the desperate nature of the situation, Captain Mooney deliberately left a position of cover and exposed himself to withering fire, to personally lead a machine gun squad forward. Moving well in front of his own lines, he remained in his isolated and hazardous position, directing a heavy and effective volume of fire against the foe even though the enemy had observed movement to the front and immediately shifted the full power of their fire against his force. Captain Mooney’s daring actions caused the enemy to lift their fire from the pinned down platoon and enabled them to continue the assault, finally destroying the enemy forces and relieving the hard-pressed Belgian Battalion. Captain Mooney’s gallantry and brilliant leadership reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.