The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Vito E. Perrone (ASN: RA-32000574), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Tank Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 11 and 12 February 1951 in the vicinity of Hoengsong, Korea. On those dates, Sergeant Perrone was serving as platoon sergeant of a tank platoon in support of a rifle battalion. The battalion, under pressure of overwhelming enemy attacks from its front and flanks, was forced to withdraw through terrain already infested by large hostile contingents. The tank platoon, with two tanks leading the infantry and with two tanks commanded by Sergeant Perrone bringing up the rear, covered the gradual retrograde movement. Throughout two days and nights the cut-off forces fought bitterly and suffered heavy casualties in their efforts to penetrate the hostile encirclement. The two lead tanks were destroyed by the enemy and only the two tanks led by Sergeant Perrone remained. Directing the fire of his tank weapons at every target of opportunity and frequently dismounting from his tank in order to discover hidden gun positions from which the enemy was blocking the movement of the friendly troops, he effectively covered the withdrawal and assisted in keeping the column moving. Whenever he saw the route obstructed by an abandoned vehicle, he would rush forward on foot to remove the obstacles. At one point, he observed two 155-mm. howitzers that had slid into a ditch. In order to prevent them from falling into enemy hands, he delayed his withdrawal long enough to ram and destroy the two field pieces with his tank. Near the town of Hoengsong the road was completely blocked by abandoned and destroyed vehicles. Determined not to abandon his two tanks, which meanwhile had run out of ammunition, he led them down a steep bank around the obstacle and, proceeding on foot in defiance of heavy enemy mortar and small arms fire, succeeded in getting them back to friendly lines. The gallantry and heroic leadership displayed by Sergeant Perrone reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.