The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant George C. Lee, Jr. (MCSN: 0-54718), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Leader of Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 18 August 1953. With his unit engaged in defending a section of a strategic hill against repeated assaults by numerically superior enemy forces, Second Lieutenant Lee constantly exposed himself to intense hostile fire to deploy his men in advantageous positions and directed withering counterfire on the attackers. Although partially blinded when he sustained multiple wounds during the intensive action, he bravely refused to be evacuated, maintained complete control of his platoon and continued to call in effective mortar and artillery fire which inflicted severe casualties upon the enemy. By his outstanding courage, inspiring leadership and selfless devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Lee was greatly instrumental in the successful defense of a vital position and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.