The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Lawrence Numkena (ASN: ER-54051317), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company K, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 13 February 1951 in the vicinity of Chipyong-ni, Korea. Company K was under attack by a numerically superior enemy force. During the engagement Sergeant Numkena, a Browning Automatic Rifleman, observed a large enemy force advancing up a draw to his left front. He coolly waited until the enemy were within range and then opened a stream of devastating automatic rifle fire which killed 16 of the enemy and dispersed the remainder. Later, he was informed that another enemy force was approaching from a gulley to his left flank. Under intense mortar, machine gun and small arms fire he crawled from his foxhole and along a ridge line to a position directly in front of the oncoming enemy. From his exposed position he lobbed hand grenades into the midst of the enemy and then opened fire with his automatic rifle, killing 27 and routing the survivors. The gallantry displayed by Sergeant Numkena reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.