The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Virgil Muntean (ASN: RA-15282504), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company K, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action on 27 August 1950, near Sobu-dong, on the Naktong River, Korea. Private First Class Muntean volunteered to accompany his platoon leader on an extremely dangerous mission of destroying 16 enemy landing rafts located on the west bank of the Naktong River. Unarmed and assisting in the carrying of two five gallon cans of gasoline, the patrol crossed 200 yards of open sandy beach and swam across 150 yards of swiftly flowing river. The crossing of both the beach and river was made under direct enemy observation and intense machine gun and small arms fire, from an undetermined number of enemy troops. Upon reaching the rafts Private First Class Muntean assisted in the assembling and burning of the enemy material, under extremely adverse and dangerous conditions. Private First Class Muntean waited until there was no possibility that the rafts and material would not be completely destroyed, then returned with the patrol to the east bank of the river under heavy machine gun, artillery, and small arms fire. Private First Class Muntean’s actions on this patrol reflect great credit upon himself, his organization, and the military service.