The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Gum Shoon Chin, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Weapons Company, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action at Hagaru-ri, Korea, on 29 November 1950. At approximately 0300, on 29 November 1950, Private First Class Chin and his squad composed a part of the front lines of a perimeter defense during a fierce attack by a strong enemy force. One of the squad’s two machine guns became inoperative, and because of a knoll, the remaining gun’s fire was masked to its left flank. The riflemen who had been covering that flank were temporarily forced to withdraw, leaving the flank exposed to the enemy attacking from that direction. Realizing the vulnerability of the gun’s position, Private First Class Chin voluntarily and unhesitatingly obtained an automatic rifle from a wounded Marine, for added fire power, and he fearlessly advanced under heavy enemy fire to a firing position on the knoll. He then commenced firing, reloading from belted machine gun ammunition. During this action, which continued until dawn, Private First Class Chin constantly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire without regard for his own personal safety. He inflicted numerous casualties upon the enemy, and his high degree of skill and aggressiveness successfully prevented the enemy from assaulting the machinegun’s position through that vulnerable sector in spite of the enemy’s repeated efforts to do so. Private First Class Chin’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.