LTC ROBERT GALLARDO , (then 2LT) Infantry, United States Army. Lieutenant Gallardo, a member of Company E, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Ku-Jang-Dong, Korea, on the night of 25-26 November 1950. Company E bore the brunt of an attack by a large and determined hostile force. Although wounded early in this attack, Lieutenant Gallardo remained constantly with his platoon, encouraging his men and repeatedly exposing himself to the devastating enemy fire in order to go to the aid of the wounded. In the early morning hours, the enemy launched a fanatical mass attack that forced Lieutenant Gallardo’s platoon to withdraw part way down the slope. Immediately, he reorganized his men and led them in a counterattack, regaining the lost ground. In this action the company commander was seriously wounded and Lieutenant Gallardo, after personally evacuating him, took command of the company. Upon receiving orders to withdraw to better defensive positions, he recovered an abandoned truck and supervised the evacuation of all wounded personnel. Only after he was assured that the entire company had successfully moved to the new positions, did he allow himself to be evacuated for medical treatment. The selfless devotion to duty and extraordinary heroism displayed by Lieutenant Gallardo in this action reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

LTC Gallardo was a life member and resided in Florida.