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 Private First Class John A. Smith (ASN: RA-16334008), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company F, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 8 March 1951, near Norenbau, Korea. On that date he was a member of an infantry company while that unit was attacking an enemy stronghold in the vicinity of Norenbau. The company’s objective lay approximately 300 yards to its front, with the area between under intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. When his platoon was subjected to heavy machine gun fire while advancing, Private Smith, realizing the danger of the situation, exposed himself to intense enemy machine gun fire in order to locate the enemy machine gun position. Upon locating the source of fire, he aggressively charged the position in the face of the deadly fire, and destroyed the emplacement and crew, thus giving members of his unit an opportunity to improve their positions. .After rejoining his platoon he was mortally wounded by a burst of enemy machine gun fire. The unselfish heroism and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by Private Smith on this occasion were instrumental in saving the platoon heavy casualties , and reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.