The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private George E. Merica, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while Serving as Commanding Officer, Battery D, 15th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Automatic Weapons) Battalion (Self Propelled), 7th Infantry Division, in action near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, on 1 December 1950. On this date, the M-19 gun carriage of which Private Merica was a crew member was leading a convoy of trucks loaded with wounded along a road when an enemy road block was encountered. This road block was heavily defended by the enemy. Inasmuch as the M-19 had expended all of its 40-mm. ammunition, it was necessary to reduce the road block by some other means. Private Merica, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, procured a 3.5-inch rocket launcher and four rockets, and under intense enemy automatic weapons fire, courageously made his way on foot to a point of vantage. Here he loaded and fired the four rockets at the road block, reducing it to such an extent that it was possible for the M-19 to knock aside the remaining debris. The convoy of wounded was thus permitted to proceed past the enemy positions. Private Merica’s heroism in the face of almost certain death on this occasion was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.