The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Cavalry) Clay Thompson Buckingham (ASN: 0-59247), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company A, 64th Tank Battalion (Medium), 3d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in Korea. On 18 September 1951, Lieutenant Buckingham was commanding the lead tank in the lead platoon of a battalion task force in an attack against a well-entrenched, determined enemy near Hat-o-Dong, Korea. While moving forward to bypass a destroyed bridge, the platoon ran into an extensive hostile mine field, well covered by anti-tank, artillery, mortar and small arms fire, disabling three of the tanks. Realizing the disorganized state the remainder of his unit was in, Lieutenant Buckingham dismounted from his vehicle and fearlessly directed the evacuation of the wounded and guided the return fire for his two remaining tanks. After an order to withdraw was received, he courageously reentered the one tank that had to be abandoned, cognizant of the fact that hostile anti-tank guns were firing directly on it, to remove classified material and prevent its capture by the enemy. His initiative and leadership in the face of intense and well observed fire served as an inspiration to his men who subsequently retrieved two damaged tanks. Lieutenant Buckingham’s gallantry reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.