Robert E. Strom

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Oak Leaf Cluster to First Lieutenant Robert E. Strom, 001174449, Infantry, Heavy Mortar Company, 65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On 26 April 1951, near Yongam-ni, Korea, Lieutenant Strom, in the face of an extremely heavy enemy attack at night, succeeded in organizing an effective defensive perimeter by collecting the personnel from units previously dispersed by hostile action and positioning them to obtain a coordinated line of resistance. Continually walking along the most critical sector of the perimeter, he adjusted the location of the defending personnel to cope with the constantly shifting enemy attack. At one stage of the action, hostile troops penetrated the friendly lines and braving the lethal hail of automatic weapons and small arms fire, Lieutenant Strom immediately took positive steps to restore the line in that sector. The heroic and decisive leadership displayed by Lieutenant Strom reflects great credit upon himself and the military service.