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 (Infantry) Emil J. Stryker, Jr. (ASN: 0-59043), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Company, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 1 September 1950 in the vicinity of Changnyong, Korea. On that morning he was a member of the security platoon assigned the mission of protecting the Regimental Command Post. When the enemy broke through the regiment’s main line of defense, an enemy force of approximately 200 advanced to within 50 yards of the command post, pinning down the security platoon with intense grenade, sub-machine gun, and rifle fire. Leaving the relative security of his foxhole, Lieutenant Stryker moved through the enemy fire to a position from which he could better direct the fire of his automatic weapons and individual riflemen. When the order to withdraw was received, he moved under enemy fire and in full view of the enemy, from foxhole to foxhole, conveying this order. When the withdrawal had been completed, he voluntarily returned to an abandoned position to assist in evacuating the dead and wounded. Lieutenant Stryker’s calm, self-confident, efficient performance of duty under intense enemy fire reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.