GENERAL ORDERS - NUMBER 229 -6  July 1953

 

    AWARD OF THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL - By direction of the President, under the provisions of Executive Order 9419, 4 February 1944 (Sec II, WD Bul 3, 1944), and pursuant to authority in AR 600-45, the Bronze Star Medal with Letter "V" device for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States is awarded to the following named enlisted men:

Sergeant First Class JOSE ROMERO GERENA, RA30420182, Infantry, Tank Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On the afternoon of 10 June 1953, a raiding party left friendly lines with the mission of attacking and destroying the enemy forces on Hill "412" in the vicinity of Sagimak, Korea. As the friendly unit approached the objective, they were subjected to intense artillery and mortar fire from the extensive enemy fortifications in the surrounding mountains. Sergeant ROMERO GERENA was commanding his tank in a stationary position on the friendly main line of resistance at the inception of this action. Immediately, he gave skillful fire commands which brought heavy fire to bear on the enemy fortifications, resulting in a partial neutralization of the enemy shell fire. Despite the enemy artillery counterfire which now came into Sergeant ROMERO GERENA'S tank position, he stood on the rear deck of the tank to give accurate and effective fire directions on the enemy positions. As the friendly assault elements charged up the slope of the hill, he provided accurate close support fire which destroyed enemy trenchwork and automatic weapons emplacements in the path of the advancing friendly force. His affective fire minimized friendly casualties and materially aided in the successful accomplishment of the assigned mission. Sergeant ROMERO GERENA'S outstanding heroism and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the Federal Service from Puerto Rico.

Source: Record Group 338: General Orders 3rd Infantry Division, Boxes 129 to 131 - National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.