The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal James E. Whitaker (ASN: ER-16202195), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company H, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 18 May 1951, in the vicinity of Chaun-ni, Korea. On that date the unit of which he was a member came under severe enemy attack and was ordered to withdraw to a more tenable position. Corporal Whitaker voluntarily remained behind, firing his rifle to cover his unit’s withdrawal. Having expended his ammunition and while looking for more he came upon an abandoned machine gun intact with ammunition. With accurate and concentrated machine gun fire he effectively delayed a numerically superior enemy force until his comrades had successfully withdrawn. The gallantry displayed by Corporal Whitaker reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.