The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Private First Class Paul J. McLaughlin (ASN: RA-16296071), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Tank-Infantry Task Force, 5th Cavalry Regiment (Infantry), 1st Cavalry Division. Private First Class McLaughlin distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Kiokso-ri, Korea, on 15 February 1951. Private First Class McLaughlin’s Tank-Infantry Task Force had the mission of breaking through the enemy lines in an effort to relieve a beleaguered friendly unit. With the infantrymen riding the tanks, the task force advanced through a narrow draw and was suddenly subjected to a heavy volume of small-arms and automatic-weapons fire from enemy emplacements located on both sides of the road. The men were soon forced to abandon the tanks because of the intense fire and take up positions along the road. Private McLaughlin observed one of his comrades fall to the ground, seriously wounded. With a complete disregard for his personal safety, he moved across the fire-swept terrain in an effort to aid him. After carrying the wounded man to the safety of a ditch, he made his way back to the tank and secured ammunition for a friendly machine-gun position. As he made his way across an exposed paddy with the heavy boxes of ammunition, he was wounded in both legs by enemy fire. Undaunted, he crawled to the machine-gun emplacement, dragging the ammunition behind him. Private McLaughlin then took up a position to protect the machine-gunner with rifle fire but, weak from loss of blood, he collapsed. Upon regaining consciousness, he realized that the situation had become desperate and so, ordering the friendly troops about him to withdraw with the wounded, he crawled to the machine-gun and began firing at the on-rushing enemy with deadly accuracy. He was still firing the weapon when his position was overrun by the enemy and he was killed. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Private First Class McLaughlin on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.