Isaac Paz-Ayala

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Isaac Paz-Ayala (RA30432566), Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. On 27 April 1951, Company B, occupying a blocking position on Hill 476 near Uijongbu, Korea, had been viciously attacked by a numerically superior enemy force which managed to surround the area. When the company was ordered to withdraw, it was necessary to assault the hostile positions with a bayonet charge to create an escape gap in the enemy line. Moving forward with his platoon, Sergeant Paz-Ayala located an enemy machine gun which was inflicting casualties on his unit and, maneuvering himself to within approximately 60 yards of the weapon, he killed its crew with the accurate fire of his carbine. Having eliminated the gun crew, Sergeant Paz-Ayala ran through vicious enemy cross fire to the position and turning the weapon around, began firing on a group of retreating hostile soldiers, killing and wounding several. Sergeant Paz-Ayala’s gallant and aggressive behavior materially aided the successful withdrawal of his unit and reflects the highest credit upon himself and the military service.