Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Chester C. Brumet (ASN: 0-2020880), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company I, 3d Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Mandeville, Normandy, France, on 7 June 1944. Staff Sergeant Brumet advanced alone to an exposed position and from there fired on the enemy with an automatic weapon. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    23d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    March 8, 1951

    Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, Korea, General Orders No. 904 (November 16, 1951)

    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 First Lieutenant (Infantry) Chester C. Brumet (ASN: 0-2020880), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company E, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Brumet distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Yangimal, Korea, on 8 March 1951. On that date, Lieutenant Brumet led his platoon in an attack against the left flank of well-fortified enemy positions on Hill 281. As the men advanced, they were subjected to a heavy volume of automatic-weapons fire from the enemy. Completely disregarding the intense fire, Lieutenant Brumet maneuvered a machine-gun into an advantageous position from which, under his skillful direction, the enemy weapons were silenced. As the platoon renewed its assault and neared the objective, it was again subjected to intense enemy fire and was pinned down. Undaunted, Lieutenant Brumet exposed himself to the heavy fire and deployed his men to covered positions from which they could return fire. He then moved across the fire-swept terrain to a friendly tank and effectively directed its fire against the enemy emplacements, enabling his men to secure their objective. The enemy immediately launched a fierce counterattack. During this attack Lieutenant BRUMET observed an automatic rifleman lying wounded in an exposed position. Unhesitatingly, he moved to the wounded man’s side and carried him to safety. Returning to the exposed position, he began firing the automatic rifle at the onrushing enemy. His deadly accurate fire successfully broke up the counterattack and inflicted numerous casualties among the hostile troops. Lieutenant Brumet then reorganized his men despite a devastating mortar barrage concentrated on the friendly positions, and led them in an attack that completely demoralized the hostile troops and caused them to flee in disorder. The extraordinary heroism displayed by First Lieutenant Brumet on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    23d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    May 18, 1951

    Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 860 (December 15, 1951)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Chester C. Brumet (ASN: 0-2020880), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 18 May 1951 in the vicinity of Chaun-ni, Korea. On this date Lieutenant Brumet was a member of an infantry unit which was under severe enemy attack and was withdrawing to more tenable positions. As friendly elements advanced through the treacherous mountain trails, a group of comrades with litter cases and walking wounded were suddenly subjected to heavy hostile machine gun fire from a ridge line. Immediately Lieutenant Brumet advanced forward of his column, secured a machine gun and placed it into position exposed to the hostile fire. He then commenced firing on the hostile emplacement to designate the enemy target. Then he advanced to a 60-mm. mortar and began showering the hostile position with a heavy concentration of fire. So accurate and effective was the combined fire that the enemy machine gun was silenced and attention was successfully diverted from the column of wounded men and enabled them to withdraw to safety. The gallantry in action displayed by Lieutenant Brumet on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    23d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    May 16, 1951

    Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 184 (June 17, 1951)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Chester C. Brumet (ASN: 0-2020880), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 16 May 1951 in the vicinity of Chaun-ni, Korea. Lieutenant Brumet, in his capacity as assistant S3 of the 2d Battalion, was notified that the friendly units on the battalion’s flank had suffered a penetration by a numerically superior enemy force. Realizing the danger to his own battalion because of this situation, he immediately proceeded to the adjacent sector into the area of penetration and, though under constant sniper and machine gun fire from the enemy on the high ground, remained exposed until he had reorganized this unit into an effective fighting force. As this force began an orderly withdrawal, it was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force. Lieutenant Brumet immediately placed himself in such a position so as to bring effective fire upon the enemy force. This action completely routed the enemy patrol, killing five and taking the first enemy prisoner of the Cahun-ni action. Lieutenant Brumet’s outstanding aggressiveness in his efforts to destroy the enemy reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.