The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Walter V. Deck, Jr., United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Hoengsong, Korea, on 12 February 1951. On this date, Company G, part of a motorized column withdrawing through Hoengsong to Wonju, Korea, acting as rear guard for the battalion. When the column was halted in Hoengsong by an enemy road block, Captain Deck went forward to contact the battalion commander. Shortly thereafter, the enemy broke through the convoy with heavy machine gun fire. Although cut off from his company, Captain Deck, without regard for his own personal safety, infiltrated through the enemy lines to return to his unit. Enemy fire raked the column as Captain Deck organized his company (remainder of sentence illegible). Discovering that some of his men were missing, he reentered the village and directed them to the unit area. He was at all times a constant source of encouragement and inspiration to his men. The gallantry displayed by Captain Deck on this occasion contributed to the successful accomplishment of the unit’s assigned mission and reflects great credit on himself and the military service.