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 Captain (Infantry) Kenneth Lyles Sutherland (ASN: 0-1300881), United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with Company M, 3d Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team, 24th Infantry Division near Kilmyong-ni, Korea on 31 March 1951. The Third Battalion Was assigned the mission of seizing and securing well and placed enemy positions on Hill 569 and the ridge leading up the Hill 567. Company I had displaced upon Hill 569 and suddenly received intense enemy fire from the ridge leading up to Hill 567. In order to eliminate the enemy machine gun position which was hampering the companies, Captain Sutherland left his position of comparative safety and exposed himself to the imminent danger of facing the enemy fire. Moving to a forward area, he directed the fire of his .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy who were firing on Company I from an abandoned mineshaft. Despite the severity of machine gun and small arms fire directed at him, he skillfully directed fire into the enemy position, knocking it out. He then moved to reconnoiter an area for his mortar platoon which was displacing forward in order to better support the rifle companies. Realizing the immediate need for speed, he moved by vehicle to expedite the placing of the mortars into position with the least amount of delay. While moving along the road, his vehicle struck an enemy mine, and Captain Sutherland was mortally wounded. Captain Sutherland’s unhesitating devotion to duty and courageous actions were a constant source of inspiration to his men and reflect the greatest credit on himself and the United States infantry.