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 [then Corporal] Isiah Washington (ASN: RA-14361409), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 2 September 1951 in the vicinity of Pia-ri, Korea. On this date Sergeant Washington was a member of a mine clearing party which had the mission of removing enemy anti-personnel mines left on Hill 940 by the retreating hostile force. Upon reaching the hilltop, a soldier was seriously wounded by a shoe mine, and in an effort to reach him and render first aid, another man was fatally wounded by a mine. Crawling in the thick dust and fine dirt caused by the intense enemy artillery fire, Sergeant Washington, in his efforts to reach the wounded man, removed many anti-personnel mines that were buried in the dust. Upon reaching his wounded comrade, Sergeant Washington rendered prompt first aid and carried him over the hazardous path to a point of safety. His courage and selfless devotion to duty and comrades were an inspiration to all who observed him. The gallantry in action displayed by Sergeant Washington is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.