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 Corporal Joseph C. D. Violette (ASN: RA-11198353), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Medical Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in action near Mundung-ni, Korea, on 6 November 1951. On this date, Corporal Violette was a Medical Aid Man for Tank Company which was on a patrol. Early in the patrol, the lead tank was struck and disabled by enemy anti-tank fire. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Corporal Violette immediately came forward through an enemy mine field in a light vehicle (M-39 Personnel Carrier). Upon his arrival at the burning tank, Corporal Violette dismounted and under a hail of enemy anti-tank, mortar, automatic weapons and small arms fire, personally supervised and aided in the removing of an unconscious man from the turret of the enflamed tank. Without thought for his own safety, he remained exposed to the intense enemy fire until he had loaded the wounded on the M-39. As the M-39 was returning to friendly lines, the vehicle hit an enemy mine and over-turned. Corporal Violette had saved the lives of the men trapped in the burning tank, but sacrificed his own, as he was mortally injured in the overturning of the evacuation vehicle. The gallantry displayed by Corporal Violette reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.