Victor Cartagena

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Victor Cartagena (RA10401644), Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army, On 22 April 1951, Company E attacked and captured a hill near Onsu-Dong, Korea; during the engagement which lasted approximately three hours, Master Sergeant (then Sergeant First Class) Cartagena constantly exposed himself in order to point out and fire on enemy targets. That night, hostile forces attacked and subjected the platoon command post, held by Sergeant Cartagena and a few others, to severe fire. The enemy, of estimated battalion strength, continued to attack until daylight; and, while a slight withdrawal of friendly troops was necessary, Sergeant Cartagena personally silenced an enemy machine gun, organized defenses at great risk to himself and, with various weapons, inflected such heavy casualties on the enemy that they withdrew leaving a greater part of the objective in friendly hands. The gallantry and superb courage displayed by Sergeant Cartagena reflect the highest credit upon himself and the military service.