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 Corporal] Donald W. Praska (ASN: ER-17216079), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of 2d Reconnaissance Company, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 14 February 1951, in the vicinity of Chaum-ni, Korea. On 14 February 1951, the 2d Reconnaissance Company, with an attached rifle company, established a perimeter around the town of Chaum-ni. The perimeter was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force. After several hours of fighting, the position became untenable and a withdrawal of the company was ordered. Sergeant Praska was designated to drive a truck ahead of a personnel carrier loaded with wounded. The escape route he had to follow was commanded on both sides by the enemy, who attacked the column in small groups, using automatic weapons and rifle fire. Sergeant Praska continuously repulsed those attacks with intense and accurate machine gun fire. He was constantly exposed to enemy fire, but succeeded in leading his vehicles to safety, thus saving the lives of the wounded men in his charge. The gallantry displayed by Sergeant Praska reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.