The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Benjamin D. L. S. Baptista (ASN: US-5000384), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy on 17 September 1951 in the vicinity of Yanggu, Korea. On that date Sergeant Baptista was leading a contact patrol when it was ambushed by enemy forces. During the encounter that followed, one of his legs was rendered useless by an enemy grenade. Although in great pain, Sergeant Baptista, with compete disregard for his personal safety, shouted words of encouragement to his men and directed them in routing the hostile forces from their positions. With the mission completed and while being evacuated to friendly lines, he maintained control of his men, skillfully maneuvering them through the enemy lines to safety. His selfless devotion to duty while in great pain and his aggressive leadership under the most trying conditions were an inspiration to the men of his unit. The gallantry in action displayed by Sergeant Baptista on this occasion reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.