GENERAL ORDERS - NUMBER 372 - 19 December 1952

 

    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:

   Private First Class FRANCISCO BONILLA TORRES, US50106044, Armor, Heavy Tank Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On the afternoon of 12 August 1952, a platoon of the tank company of which Private BONILLA TORRES was a member, was supporting an infantry unit assaulting hostile fortifications in the vicinity of Sargok, Korea, when the friendly unit began receiving a devastating barrage of enemy mortar fire. In an attempt to silence the hostile fire, the friendly unit began firing upon the enemy outposts. The foe immediately retaliated by increasing the volume of their mortar fire, and succeeded in scoring a direct hit on a friendly tank, setting it on fire and injuring its occupants. The crew members quickly left the tank and sought shelter in a nearby bunker. Private BONILLA TORRES, an assistant tank driver of another tank, completely ignored his personal safety, raced through the treacherous hostile fire, fearlessly climbed into the tank and drove it to a cover position, where he assisted in extinguishing the fire. Private BONILLA TORRES' outstanding heroism and intrepid actions were directly responsible for saving the tank from total destruction and reflect great credit, upon himself and the military service. Entered the Federal service from Puerto Rico.

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