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 [then Sergeant First Class] Chester C. Szeflinski (ASN: RA-31387856), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 13 December 1950, in the vicinity of Yongan-ni, Korea, the 3d Platoon of Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, was attacked and driven from its positions by a numerically superior enemy force. Realizing that the loss of the positions could mean the complete destruction of the company, Sergeant Szeflinski left his position of comparative safety, and ignoring the heavy enemy automatic fire, called for volunteers to retake the positions. Inspired by calm decisive manner, coolness under fire, and disregard for personal safety, five additional non-commissioned officers joined him in a vigorous counterattack. The suddenness of Sergeant Szeflinski’s actions threw the enemy off balance and enabled the platoon to reorganize sufficiently to follow his attack. The platoon, led by Sergeant Szeflinski and his men, drove the enemy from the platoon positions, crossed an open field against sustained enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire, and seized the original enemy lines. This aggressive move completely routed the enemy with a loss of twenty two known dead. Sergeant Szeflinski’s heroic action, presence of mind, and aggressive spirit were instrumental in the recovery of the company positions and the defeat of the numerically superior attacking forces. His actions exemplify the highest traditions of the military service.