Hugo Alvarez

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Hugo Alvarez (ER30424065), Corporal, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 23 April 1951, near Ognyo-bong, Korea, a determined enemy force attacked defensive positions occupied by the Second Platoon of F Company. In the ensuing action, two members of the first squad were wounded, creating a gap in the line through which the enemy could infiltrate to the unit’s area. Corporal Alvarez, quickly realizing the seriousness of the situation, boldly exposed himself to the enemy fire and moved into the positions left vacant by the wounded men. Moving along a trench between the two dugouts, he alternated between them, firing at the foe from different angles, cleverly making them believe that this sector of the line was occupied by more than one man. When the squad began to run low on ammunition, Corporal Alvarez, in order to stretch his diminishing supply of hand grenades, threw them at irregular intervals interspersed with stones, keeping the enemy uncertain and pinned down until ammunitions arrived. Corporal Alvarez’s gallantry and unusual presence of mind reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.