The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Ernest David Bettencourt (ASN: RA-19215139), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of the Medical Detachment, 2d Engineer Combat Battalion, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 9 September 1950, in the vicinity of Wollypyong-ni, Korea. Sergeant Bettencourt, a medical aidman, volunteered to accompany a patrol which had the mission of proceeding into enemy territory in order to determine the location and disposition of enemy forces. While the patrol was approaching high ground held by the enemy, hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire was suddenly encountered, wounding the two lead scouts. Sergeant Bettencourt, with complete disregard for his own safety, rushed forward and exposed himself to the intense fire in order to render medical treatment to the two wounded scouts. During this engagement, five more patrol members were wounded and Sergeant Bettencourt rendered treatment to these wounded comrades even though he exposed himself to enemy fire during the entire action. When the patrol was ordered to withdraw, Sergeant Bettencourt personally conducted the evacuation of all the wounded in the best possible manner. The gallantry and devotion to his wounded comrades displayed by Sergeant Bettencourt reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.