The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sergeant Lavern Louis Bush (ASN: RA-17240792), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Leader of a heavy machine-gun section of Company H, 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Sergeant Bush distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Soktunji, Korea, on 18 August 1951. Sergeant Bush participated in a combat patrol which had the mission of making contact with enemy units known to be in the area. The friendly troops had moved half-way across an open field when it was discovered that the area was mined. Simultaneously, a heavy volume of enemy fire began to pour down from the surrounding slopes. From a rear position, Sergeant Bush observed that the patrol was experiencing extreme difficulty in evacuating its wounded. Quickly, he organized a volunteer rescue party and led it directly under the enemy guns in an attempt to save his wounded comrades. With two men successfully evacuated, Sergeant Bush began to make his way across the minefield but one of his men inadvertently stepped on a mine and detonated it. In the explosion that followed, Sergeant Bush was seriously wounded but, displaying great courage, he directed the evacuation of the man who had stepped on the mine and then he pushed forward once more. He advanced to the side of the last wounded man, who was lying less than fifty yards from the enemy emplacements and, disregarding the intense hostile fire being concentrated on him, he picked him up and began to make his way back to the friendly positions. Despite his own wounds, Sergeant Bush transported his wounded comrade across the wide expanse of fire-swept terrain, through the minefield, and back to the friendly positions. Although he was weak from loss of blood, he still refused medical treatment. Instead, Sergeant Bush led his men in an attack against the hostile emplacements and inflicted many casualties upon the enemy force before being ordered to withdraw. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Sergeant Bush on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.