The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant [then Private First Class] John W. Pigeon (ASN: RA-19363962), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 20 May 1951 in the vicinity of Inje, Korea. On that date, Company C relieved a friendly Korean unit, and immediately after establishing a line of defense the company was subjected to continuous fire from an enemy machine gun. Realizing the seriousness of the situation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Pigeon placed one round of ammunition in his recoilless rifle, and dragging the weapon through heavy hostile fire, crawled to a position over the ridge line. Locating the enemy position, he shouldered the loaded weapon and successfully destroyed the machine gun emplacement. As a result of Sergeant Pigeon’s courageous action, his unit was able to establish better lines of defense to repulse the hostile attack. The gallantry in action and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Pigeon on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.