The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class [then Sergeant] Stanley L. Thayne (ASN: US-56060309), 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 1 December 1952, Company E, 2d Battalion, of which Sergeant Thayne was a member, was assigned the mission of making a patrol into enemy-held territory near Sanggadan-gol, Korea, to capture prisoners for intelligence purposes. As the patrol came within a short distance of the objective, they were subjected to a heavy barrage of enemy small arms and grenade fire. Firing his rifle and hurling grenades at the foe, Sergeant Thayne braved the enemy fire as he charged their trenches. After a brief fire fight, the patrol started withdrawing, when one of the men was hit in both legs by enemy fire. Upon observing the wounded man, Sergeant Thayne immediately crossed the fire-swept terrain and picked up the wounded soldier. The enemy began to close in from three sides but with unflinching courage, he carried the wounded man through the heavy enemy fire to a place of comparative safety. While still being fired upon, he administered first aid to the wounded man and remained at his side, firing at the advancing enemy to account for at least five enemy wounded and killed. After regrouping his men, he held an orderly withdrawal while at the same time covering the evacuation of the wounded. Sergeant Thayne’s gallantry and outstanding devotion to duty and to his fellow soldiers reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.