The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Polania-Puyo, Colombian Army, for gallantry in action near Kumsong, Korea, on 20 October 1951. As commanding officer of the Colombian Battalion attached to the 21st Infantry Regiment of the 24th United States Infantry Division, he established an observation post well forward in order to observe an assault which was being launched by his battalion on a well-fortified enemy position. Having gained important information about the enemy and his runner having been wounded while attempting to return with the information to his command post, Colonel Polania-Puyo returned over the dangerous route and was seriously wounded while doing so, but refused to be evacuated until he had insured that the proper measures had been taken to meet the obstacles confronting the battalion.