GENERAL ORDERS - NUMBER 187 - 13 June 1951

 

    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:

   CORPORAL (then PRIVATE FIRST CLASS) GABRIEL A. ORTIZ, RA30403821, Infantry, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 65th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On 26 April 1951, near Ilbisang-ni, Korea, the Second Battalion was attacked by a strong hostile force, and the enemy secured the commanding terrain surrounding the command post, completely isolating it from the rest of the battalion. Corporal ORTIZ unhesitatingly ran from his position to a jeep. Aided by two comrades, he removed the machine gun from the vehicle and ran to a nearby position. While one of his comrades held the barrel of the machine gun in his bare hands and the other loaded the weapon, Corporal ORTIZ handled the aiming and firing of the gun, successfully inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking enemy and forcing him to withdraw in confusion. Corporal ORTIZ'S heroism and initiative reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the military service from Puerto Rico.