Kenneth Muir

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Kenneth Muir, Major, Royal British Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while Second in command of the First Battalion, Argyle and Southerland Highlanders, in action against enemy forces at Songju, Korea on 23 September, 1950. Major Muir personally led Companies B and C in a dawn assault on the crest of a strategic hill occupied by the enemy. His fearless personal example, superb leadership, and total disregard for danger under heavy fire from the enemy contributed greatly to the capture of the hill objective. Later, when the battalion was being driven from the hill by an enemy counterattack, Major Muir rallied his men and personally led them back to attack and recapture the lost position. Despite heavy casualties suffered by the Argylls, he consolidated his men into a strong line of resistance. In the afternoon of the same day, the enemy staged a final counterattack in such strength as to overrun the friendly position. During this final assault by the enemy, Major Muir was seen standing alone on the crest, single-handedly firing a two-inch mortar against the enemy in order to cover the withdrawal of his men. It was during this gallant and intrepid action that he was mortally wounded.
Department of the Army: General Orders No. 18 (February 18, 1953)