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 Private First Class Melvin D. York (ASN: RA-29005968), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Battery A, 12th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 2 June 1951, in the vicinity of Inje, Korea. Private York was a member of a forward observer party attached to Company C, 9th Inf entry Regiment, which was defending Hill 451. Hill 451 had undergone three enemy attacks. During the first two attacks, he distributed ammunition and administered first aid to the wounded. The third attack forced the left flank to fall back. Private York then voluntarily took up his weapon, fixed his bayonet and fearlessly charged into the attacking enemy. Fighting savagely in hand-to-hand combat he killed five enemy soldiers before he was struck and mortally wounded by enemy fire. His intrepid action so inspired his comrades, that they rallied and drove the enemy back with heavy losses. Private York’s gallantry reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.