Miguel A. Vera

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Miguel A. Vera (US50110351), Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Company F, 2d Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division. Private Vera distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Chorwon, Korea, on 21 September 1952. On that date, Private Vera’s unit was committed to assault and secure the right sector of “Old Baldy” and, although wounded in an earlier engagement, he voluntarily rejoined elements of the platoon regrouping at the base of the hill to resume the attack. Forging up the bare, rocky slope in skirmisher formation, the troops came within twenty yards of hostile positions when they were subjected to heavy artillery and mortar barrages and intense cross-fire from automatic weapons and grenades, which forced them to move back. He selflessly remained behind to cover the withdrawal and, maintaining a determined stand, poured crippling fire into enemy emplacements. During this action he lost his life.