The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Canuto Valenzuela (ASN: ER-57634955), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 3 June 1951, K Company’s defense line near Sasong-ni, Korea was fiercely attacked during the night by a large enemy force with the sector occupied by the Second Platoon receiving the brunt of the assault. The savage nature of the attack, the resulting heavy casualties, and darkness combined to cause much confusion, threatening that portion of the perimeter with collapse. Sergeant Valenzuela, immediately left his position in the command post and alternately running and crawling, moved from foxhole to foxhole shouting instructions and encouraging the men to stabilize their positions. Ignoring the barrage of bursting grenades and deadly hail of automatic weapons fire, he personally placed in the most advantageous locations all reinforcements sent to bolster the sagging line. Because of heavy casualties and the numerical superiority of the enemy force, the remainder of the platoon was compelled to fall back to more tenable positions in order to regroup. The withdrawal successfully accomplished, the reorganized unit, led by Sergeant Valenzuela, vigorously counterattacked and retook the area, thus restoring the defensive perimeter. The valiant leadership and gallant determination exhibited by Sergeant Valenzuela reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant First Class Canuto Valenzuela (ASN: ER-57634955), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On 12 February 1951, near Chom-chon, Korea, Sergeant Valenzuela’s squad came under intense fire from small arms and automatic weapons by an estimated three hundred enemy. Without hesitation, ordering his squad to follow, he charged an emplacement from which machine gun fire was coming. He threw two hand grenades into the dugout knocking the gun out of action, whereupon several enemy troops ran out discharging automatic weapons as they came. Sergeant Valenzuela was knocked down by a bullet in the hip, but quickly rose, followed by his squad, and again charged the dugout in the face of the automatic fire, killed all the enemy and occupied the position. Only after the position had been secured and his squad reorganized would he consent to medical attention. Sergeant Valenzuela’s personal gallantry, daring leadership and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.