U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler pins the Silver Star

U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler pins the Silver Star Medal onto William V. Wuorinen during an award ceremony held at Naselle-Grays River Valley School, Naselle, Wash., Jan. 30. The award was given for his "gallantry in action" between March 16, 1953, and March 17, 1953, while serving as an infantryman. Wuorinen was assigned to 1st Platoon, Company L, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, during the Korean War. Pfc. Wuorinen's heroic actions during combat operation contributed to the overwhelming success of the command's mission to drive Chinese forces from Hill 355 in the vicinity of Un-Dong, North Korea. In the course of the battle, under intense attack by hostile forces, Wuorinen and another soldier provided life-saving treatment to a wounded senior officer, holding off an attacking force of Chinese soldiers until reinforcements and medical personnel arrived. Due to a paperwork mistake nearly 60 years ago, Wuorinen's award was only recently approved by the Army Decorations Board. The Silver Star is the third highest military decoration for valor, surpassed only by the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor. The award is retroactive: all those cited for "gallantry in action" in previous campaigns, even as far back as the Spanish-American War, are eligible to wear it.