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 Corporal Robert W. Rupe (ASN: RA-19370499), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company L, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 17 May 1951, in the vicinity of Pungchon-ni, Korea. On those dates his company was defending fortified positions against fanatical attacks by numerically superior enemy forces. Throughout this bitter defensive operation, Corporal Rupe, with complete disregard for his own safety, time and again left his covered position and traversed a distance of a hundred yards of open ground in order to bring up ammunition for himself and his comrades. In so doing, he was constantly exposed to heavy enemy fire and finally paid the supreme sacrifice on the last day of the action. His re-supply of ammunition at grave risk to himself was major factor in the company’s successful defense of its positions. The gallantry displayed by Corporal Rupe reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.