The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Donald H. Sinclair (ASN: US-52083794), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, near Kumsong, Korea, on 1 November 1951. Elements of his heavy weapons company were occupying defensive positions on a recently captured strategic hill. After making a fainting attack on an adjoining hill to divert the friendly troops’ attention, the enemy masses turned suddenly and assaulted the unit’s positions with the element of surprise in their favor. The hostile soldiers were within 75 yards of the first squad’s machine gun emplacement and [the enemy unit] began firing its four automatic weapons with concentrated intensity before they were discovered. Private Sinclair, Machine Gunner, immediately sized up the situation. He deliberately held his fire until he had determined the location of the automatic weapons and until the enemy was within grenade-throwing distance. With his weapon freed from its adjustment mechanism, he swept the enemy hordes with devastatingly accurate bursts. Finding himself unable to reach the entire group of attackers from his half-crouched position, he jumped to his feet and, heedless of the intense enemy small arms fire cutting branches and splattering dust around him, he proceeded to make a one-man stand. With his machine gun cradled in his arms, he advanced slowly, maintaining such a steady and highly effective volley of fire that the enemy suffered severe casualties and retreated in blind panic. Private Sinclair’s courageous action, exceptional presence of mind and selfless performance of duty contributed almost exclusively to the success of his unit’s defense and reflect the highest credit on himself and the U.S. Infantry.