gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in near Chupa-ri, Korea, on 14 July 1951. His platoon’s objective was a well camouflaged enemy entrenchment that encircled machine gun positions on top of a hill. The previous attempts by other platoons to approach this entrenchment had ended in failure due to the large number of casualties suffered from the heavily armed enemy. Sergeant Thompson, an acting platoon leader, led his men into the attack, under heavy enemy machine gunfire, until they reached a position 30 yards from the protective entrenchments, at which time the enemy opened up with small arms fire and grenades, forcing them to take cover. He realized that if immediate action was not taken, the attack would quickly turn into a disastrous rout, as had the previous ones. He jumped up from his position on the ground, fixed his bayonet and shouted for the men to follow him. Without waiting for the platoon to follow, he raced over the exposed terrain, completely disregarding the heavy enemy fire and grenades, firing his rifle and then throwing grenades into a bunker, knocking it out. His charge so inspired his men that they jumped up from their cover and immediately joined him, after which a tremendous firefight ensued with many of the enemy being killed. Meanwhile, an order was passed up from the rear to withdraw to permit an artillery barrage. By the time he received the word, the majority of the platoon had already pulled back, leaving a few men scattered on the flanks. Again disregarding his own safety, he raced over to the men and told them to pull back, himself being the last man to leave. He missed, by only a minute, the incoming artillery. Sergeant Thompson’s outstanding courage, leadership and devotion to duty under intense enemy fire were an inspiration to his comrades and reflect the greatest credit on himself in the United States Infantry.