The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Corps of Engineers) George E. Smith (ASN: 0-1120410), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company D, 10th Engineer Combat Battalion, 3d Infantry Division, in Korea. On 28 and 29 November 1950, Lieutenant Smith was in command of a platoon in a defensive position near Hagaru-ri, Korea. When his company was attacked by an enemy force employing automatic weapons, hand grenades, mortar and artillery, Lieutenant Smith manned a fifty-caliber machine gun, the operator of which had been incapacitated by artillery fire. On firing the weapon, Lieutenant Smith found that a new barrel was necessitated. While attempting to change the barrel in darkness and under intense artillery fire, he was struck by remains of a body propelled by an artillery burst, which caused him to lose the new barrel. Through the night, Lieutenant Smith remained by the gun in a position to deliver rifle fire against the enemy until, at dawn, he found the barrel and put the gun back in operation. The courageous and inspiring action aided his company in holding its commanding position. Although he was wounded in this action, Lieutenant Smith’s sustained heroic actions reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the military service.