The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Calvin W. Patterson (ASN: RA-39302102), United States Army, for gallantry in action on 5 July 1950, as a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division at Chonan, Korea. Sergeant First Class Patterson was acting as a forward observer for a mortar unit. The position was being assaulted by an overwhelmingly large force of the enemy . When Sergeant First Class Patterson was wounded in the neck, he refused to leave his position and have the wound treated. He remained in the forward area directing his own mortar fire. When the position was finally overrun and a withdrawal became necessary, Sergeant First Class Patterson was the last man to leave. His heroic action was an inspiration to all who witnessed it.