The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Frederick Mortimer (ASN: 0-1340682), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 18 May 1951, in the vicinity of Kunmul-gol, Korea. On that date he voluntarily organized a patrol for the purpose of recovering communications vehicles which the enemy captured after overrunning a battalion command post. Lieutenant Mortimer proceeded with his group to the area were the vehicles were left. Supported only by the fire of a tank section firing from his rear, Lieutenant Mortimer exposed himself to a heavy volume of small arms and machine gun fire delivered from close range, and led his men into the overrun command post. After searching the area for wounded men who might have been left behind and finding none, he personally drove a jeep and trailer out of the area, exposing himself to a hail of enemy machine gun fire. His determination and courage inspired others of the group to follow his lead, thus denying the enemy a number of vitally needed vehicles. The gallantry displayed by Lieutenant Mortimer reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.