The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Calvin E. Lee (MCSN: 511010), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Sergeant of Weapons Company, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 8 December 1950. With the forward elements of his platoon pinned down by heavy and accurate hostile automatic weapons and small arms fire from three sides while spearheading a drive along the road south of Koto-ri, Staff Sergeant Lee courageously left his covered position and moved forward with his platoon leader under heavy fire to reconnoiter an avenue of approach to the enemy positions. Encountering a hostile machine gun nest, he assisted in knocking out the weapon with hand grenades and, during a later reconnaissance, when he was wounded and his platoon leader killed, he refused treatment and evacuation and remained with his group until the unit was reorganized and placed in charge of the leader of an adjacent platoon. Cool and courageous under fire, Staff Sergeant Lee, by his fortitude and indomitable devotion to duty, inspired all who served with him, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.