Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Private First Class

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    38th Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    2d Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    May 17 & 18, 1951

    Headquarters, 2d Infantry Division, General Orders No. 173 (June 16, 1951)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class George J. Braithewaite (ASN: RA-24457891), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy while serving with Company I, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action on 17 and 18 May 1951 in the vicinity of Pungchong-ni, Korea. At about 2300 hours of 17 May 1951, Company I had been attacked by a numerically superior enemy force who soon drove to the main line of resistance and assaulted the company defenses. Private Braithewaite, a 3.5-inch rocket launcher gunner, left his covered position when his assistant was seriously wounded and, armed only with a pistol and hand grenades, sought enemy infiltrators around his position, killing or wounding a number of them. Although under direct fire from two machine guns and wounded himself, he gave no heed to his own safety, but courageously continued to fire at the enemy until they were driven back and the position was secure. The gallantry and aggressiveness displayed by Private Braithewaite reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.