The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Walter A. Bik, Jr. (ASN: 0-1926103), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy in Korea. On the night of 2 June and during the early morning hours of 3 June 1953, in the vicinity of Pung-Myon, Korea, a patrol of Company B, 1st Battalion, had the mission of establishing a listening post several hundred yards beyond the friendly outpost. When the patrol reached the desired position, they suddenly observed a numerically superior enemy force advancing toward the friendly lines. Lieutenant Bik, leader of the patrol, deployed his men and prepared them for the encounter. Unable to call in artillery support due to broken communications, he immediately dispatched one of his men to retrieve the radio from the point man. Upon receiving the radio, he alerted the friendly outpost and summoned the essential artillery support. His timely and accurate report to the friendly artillery group resulted in many enemy casualties. Throughout the ensuing fire fight, he heroically moved through a hail of enemy fire, directing his men and offering them encouragement. When the order come to return to friendly lines, he regrouped his men and safely led them back to the outpost. Lieutenant Bik’s outstanding gallantry and untiring devotion to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.