The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Nicholas N. Gombos (ASN: 0-63100), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Headquarters Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 1 September 1950 at Am-Dong, Korea. On 1 September 1950, Lieutenant Gombos was at a Forward Observation Post directing operations and tactical maneuvering of his battalion, which was being attacked by a numerically superior enemy force. Perceiving that the sheer weight of the enemy onslaught was routing some of the troops in a disorganized manner, and was threatening the success of the initial defense, Lieutenant Gombos left the comparative safety of his position and intercepted the withdrawing troops. Reorganizing them, he then led them successfully in a counter-attack against the enemy. The troops under his command successfully manned their original positions and stemmed the tide of advance. Later on the same day, Lieutenant Gombos observed that one of his men was lying wounded in the line of enemy small arms and mortar fire. With complete disregard for personal safety and with devotion to a wounded comrade, he dashed forward through the intense enemy fire to assist the wounded soldier. A burst from an enemy machine gun struck Lieutenant Gombos in the head, rendering him unconscious. After treatment for his wounds at the aid station, Lieutenant Gombos, realizing the dire need for officers in his battalion, refused evacuation and returned to his duties, despite a painful wound. The gallantry and unremitting devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Gombos on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

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) Nicholas N. Gombos (ASN: 0-63100), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company F, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 16 September 1950 in the vicinity of Am-Sin, Korea. On this date his company was attacking the stubbornly defended positions on Hill 208. While leading his company during the early phase of the attack Captain Gombos was wounded in the side. Refusing to be evacuated, he continued to direct the attack from the leading elements. Shortly after two of his platoon leaders were wounded, he noticed that the aggressiveness of the attack was decreasing. Disregarding his painful wound, Captain Gombos moved to the center of his company and, with complete indifference for his own safety, reorganized the two leaderless platoons despite the intense enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire. He then led them in the attack upon the hill. Suffering a second wound, he again refused evacuation and continued to lead his company until the objective was taken and secured. Only then and at the direction of his Battalion Commander did he allow himself to be evacuated for medical treatment. The intrepid gallantry displayed by Captain Gombos on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.