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 Private First Class Jessie James Bretz (ASN: RA-15431599), 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. During the night of 23 – 24 June 1951, Company B attacked Hill 717, near Sobangsan, Korea, and drove the enemy from his positions on the summit. During the assault, Private Bretz was wounded by a bursting mortar shell but refused to be evacuated. Later after the company had consolidated its positions, the enemy launched a fanatical counterattack. The heavy volume of firepower utilized by the hostile forces in the initial phase of the attack pinned down the company, greatly hindering its defense. It was then that Private Bretz, acting as a forward observer for a recoilless rifle crew, moved to a position from where he could pinpoint the enemy’s automatic weapons. Locating a machine gun nest, he signaled for the crew who maneuvered into position and with two accurate blasts eliminated the hostile emplacement. Private Bretz again taking over his machine gun advanced to an exposed position that afforded a maximum field of fire and poured a steady stream of fire on the enemy troops until he was mortally wounded by an enemy sniper. Private Bretz’s outstanding gallantry and courageous devotion to duty reflects the highest credit upon himself and the most honored traditions of the military service.