The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Kenneth J. Brown (ASN: RA-16294110), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company I, 23d Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 10 September 1950 in the vicinity of To-dong, Korea. On that date he was an automatic rifleman with a combat patrol. As the patrol approached a hill it was subjected to withering hostile machine gun fire delivered by a numerically superior enemy force entrenched on high ground. The patrol was pinned down by this intense fire. Corporal Brown immediately volunteered to cover the withdrawal of the patrol. Fearlessly exposing himself he engaged a force of approximately 100 enemy riflemen supported by five machine guns in a firefight. He remained in his exposed position, with complete disregard for his personal safety, laying down such an effective base of fire that the entire platoon-size patrol was able to withdraw for 1,800 yards across open rice paddies, with only minor casualties. The gallantry displayed on this occasion by Corporal Brown reflects the highest great upon himself is in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.