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) Raymond L. Cote, Jr. (ASN: 0-1328013), United States Army, for gallantry in action as Commanding Officer, Company A, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 22 May 1951 in the vicinity of Punnam-ni, Korea. On that date, another friendly unit which had the mission of securing a strategic enemy-held hill was pinned down by intense enemy fire and were unable to move. To relieve the pressure of fire from the unit, Lieutenant Cote immediately organized his men and led them in a flanking maneuver upon the enemy hill. Disregarding the intense enemy fire, he personally led and directed his men in the attack and on numerous occasions moved to an advanced position in order to observe enemy positions and call in mortar and artillery fire upon them. In the final phase of the attack, Lieutenant Cote, disregarding the intense fire from a well-entrenched enemy machine gun emplacement, led his men forward, completely overrunning the enemy positions. Lieutenant Cote’s courageous actions before the enemy were an inspiration to the men of his company and materially aided in the successful completion of their mission. The gallantry in action displayed by Lieutenant Cote reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.