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 Robert Townsend Copple (ASN: ER-15230476), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Private First Class Copple distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Chi’o-ri, Korea, on 22 and 23 April 1951. At approximately 2300 hours on 22 April 1951, Company K’s defenses were attacked by a fanatically determined and numerically superior enemy force. Under heavy enemy pressure, the company was compelled to relinquish their positions three consecutive times, and finally to withdraw completely to prevent their annihilation by the encircling enemy force. Throughout this four-hour action, Private Copple assumed the difficult task of substituting for an artillery forward observation team. Despite the frequent movements of company K, Private Copple steadfastly remained in an exposed forward position, directing and adjusting artillery fire on the advancing enemy masses with devastating effect. Finally, when the company was ordered to withdraw completely from their positions, Private Copple voluntarily remained in his forward position, directing artillery fire on the enemy to cover his comrades as they fell back to more tenable positions. When last seen at about 0300 hours on 23 April 1951, he was still at his post with the hostile forces closing in from all directions. His courageous actions undoubted saved the lives of many of his comrades by holding back the enemy advance until the withdrawal of the friendly forces was completed. The extraordinary heroism displayed by Private First Class Copple on this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the military service.