The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Master Sergeant Rudolph M. Sturkie (ASN: RA-6964892), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company D, 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 25 April 1951, the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry was occupying defensive positions along the Kansas Line in the vicinity of Popsu-dong, Korea, when it was attacked by a numerically superior hostile force. During the terrific onslaught the foe succeeded in capturing one of the friendly machine-gun positions and commenced using the lethal weapon on the defending forces. Quickly realizing that the machine-gun was being used against friendly positions, Sergeant Sturkie, a platoon sergeant, left his position, and exposing himself to a devastating barrage of hostile fire, crawled over the treacherous terrain toward the foe and with two accurately thrown hand grenades he destroyed the position and killed the enemy gun crew. While making his way back to his position through the intense hostile fire, he was painfully wounded in the leg by a burst of enemy machine-gun fire, but heedless of the great pain, he returned to his position. His courageous and determined action was directly responsible for saving the lives of many of his comrades, and for his units successful defense of its positions. Sergeant Sturkie’s gallantry reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.