FIRST LIEUTENANT GEORGE M. GIVIDEN, JR., Infantry, United States Army. Lieutenant Gividen, a member of an infantry company, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Sataeri, Korea. On 12 October 1952, a volunteer patrol was organized under the leadership of Lieutenant Gividen for the purpose of destroying an enemy outpost. As the patrol approached the outpost under the cover of dusk, it received hostile fire from a hillside bunker and several dug in positions. Lieutenant Gividen was advancing toward the bunker through intense machine gun and grenade fire when he was severe wounded by a grenade exploding between his legs. With both legs broken, he continued his advance by crawling towards and simultaneously firing his carbine into the enemy positions. Lieutenant Gividen killed a charging enemy soldier with his carbine and launched a rain of grenades into the hostile positions. At this time he was wounded a second time by an exploding, white phosphorous grenade. Realizing that his group was very vulnerable, he crawled to a position which was parallel to the enemy locations and poured devastating fire into them. He was again attacked by an enemy soldier with a sub-machine gun who wounded him a third time. Killing his attacker, Lieutenant Gividen continued his assault until his ammunition was expended. While returning to his patrol, he collapsed from shock and loss of blood. Inspired by Lieutenant Gividen’s heroic example the patrol fought off the enemy as they left their positions, while one member of the patrol pulled Lieutenant Gividen back into the patrol perimeter. Having regained consciousness, he again assumed command, setting up a security guard and personally acting as rear guard during the evacuation of all the other wounded of his unit. When approaching friendly lines the group was brought under heavy enemy mortar fire, wounding Lieutenant Gividen for the fourth time in the neck and the shoulder. Lieutenant Gividen’s patrol successfully neutralized the enemy outpost and returned to friendly lines with all their wounded, thus preventing any loss of American lives. The extraordinary heroism exhibited by Lieutenant Gividen on this occasion reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the military service.

Mr. Gividen resided in New Mexico.