Catalino Aruz-Perez

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Catalino Aruz-Perez (RA30413623), Corporal, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 13 October 1950, in the vicinity of Hwanggan, Korea, Corporal Aruz-Perez was a member of a combat patrol which came under intense enemy machine gun and small arms fire. The patrol was pinned down and unable to return fire. Corporal Aruz-Perez, with complete disregard for a murderous hail of fire directed against him, ran and crawled across an open field to a position from which he could fire his automatic rifle. He delivered a steady stream of fire destroying an enemy machine gun nest and enabling his patrol to withdraw to a more advantageous position. The courage and initiative displayed by Corporal Aruz-Perez reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.