The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Robert H. Erwin (MCSN: 1180016), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Rifleman of Company G, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 17 April 1953. Although painfully wounded when the combat patrol in which he was participating was ambushed by a numerically superior hostile force far forward of the main line of resistance, Private First Class Erwin unhesitatingly picked up a stricken comrade’s automatic weapon and, delivering deadly accurate fire upon the assaulting enemy, thwarted their attempt to capture a wounded Marine. With his patrol leader and fire team leader mortally wounded, he courageously moved bout to reorganize the remnants of his fire team and to direct their fire. Immediately after the hostile force had withdrawn, he inched his way through the darkness to find a radio with which he transmitted a complete and accurate account of the situation in his sector. Refusing medical treatment for his wounds, he returned to his comrades where he established a defense, attended the wounded and directed their evacuation. Despite the seriousness of his wounds, he chose to walk back to the front lines to permit the use of a stretcher for the more critically wounded. By his aggressive fighting spirit, marked fortitude and selfless devotion to duty, Private First Class Erwin served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.