..Puerto Rico's ..
65th Infantry Regiment

Bronze Star
 

HEADQUARTERS 3D INFANTRY DIVISION

GENERAL ORDERS - NUMBER 322  7 Aug 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 officer and enlisted men:

First Lieutenant ODIE E. BIGGS, 065396, Armor, Tank Company, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. During the afternoon of 10 June 1953, in the vicinity of Sagimak, Korea, a raiding party departed from the main line of resistance with the mission of attacking and destroying the enemy forces on Hill "412". Lieutenant BIGGS volunteered to command a tank located on Eagles Nest overlooking Hill "412" on its fire mission in support of the raiding party. Upon assuming command, Lieutenant BIGGS placed himself in a dangerously exposed position on the rear of the tank to enable him to obtain a better sensing of the tank's fire so that he could make immediate and proper adjustments. As he began his command of the tank's firing, the enemy countered immediately with intense barrages of artillery and mortar fire which struck around the tank's position. Despite the determined efforts of the enemy to neutralize his tank's support by counterfire, Lieutenant BIGG'S continued to expose himself and brave the enemy shell fire while maintaining clear judgment and calling for highly accurate and effective fire. His words of encouragement, complete command presence and intrepid leadership were inspirational to the members in the tank. Lieutenant BIGG'S outstanding heroism and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the Federal Service from Kansas.

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

Bronze Star List
  HOME PAGE