Gerald R. Anctil

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Gerald R. Anctil (US51180164), Corporal, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. During the early morning of 6 July 1953, Company K began to raid enemy held Hill 250 in the vicinity of Honu-Chon, Korea. Corporal Anctil was the squad leader of the machine gun squad attached to the assault platoon. After a short, but bitterly contested fire fight, the first two sectors of the hill were overrun by the attacking force. Upon reaching the crest of the second sector, Corporal Anctil immediately began to deploy his machine gun crews for the purpose of supporting the assault on another sector of the hill. Having done this, Corporal Anctil left his squad and moved to a position from which he could most effectively observe the enemy’s fire. Near the crest of the hill, he observed a large machine gun bunker and supporting automatic rifle positions. Shortly thereafter, Corporal Anctil, with complete disregard for his personal safety, took several grenades and began to rush the entrenched enemy. He was last seen throwing grenades into a trench on the left flank of the enemy positions and inflicting heavy casualties when incoming enemy artillery fire critically wounded him. Corporal Anctil’s outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service.