The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Walter Robert Rhodes (ASN: 0-2263008), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Battery B, 37th Field Artillery Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, as an Artillery Forward Observer attached to an Infantry Company. Second Lieutenant Rhodes distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Pia-ri, Korea, on 23 September 1951. On that date, Lieutenant Rhodes was attached to an infantry company engaged in an assault against a well-entrenched hostile force located near the crest of an almost vertical slope. The friendly force attacked repeatedly only to be hurled back by the numerically superior enemy who was supported by mortar and artillery fire. As the friendly troops fought their way up the slope, Lieutenant Rhodes moved forward with the assaulting elements and made his way to a position which was completely exposed to the observation of the enemy in order to direct the friendly artillery fire more effectively. Upon realizing that the hand-to-hand nature of the conflict rendered artillery support impossible, he began carrying ammunition up to the hard-pressed infantrymen. After making numerous trips up the slope, he picked up a rifle and, moving to the point which was bearing the burnt of the hostile fire, he began firing with deadly accuracy at the enemy emplacements. His actions were entirely voluntary and so inspired the men about him that they effectively repulsed a fanatical enemy counterattack. The extraordinary heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Rhodes throughout this action reflect the greatest credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest tradition of military service of the United States.