The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant John Richard Hancock (MCSN: 0-39544), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 28 November to 11 December 1950. On 28 November, when his company was ordered to occupy and defend a ridge overlooking Yudam-ni, First Lieutenant Hancock personally reconnoitered the ridge, returned to lead his men up its slope, and succeeded in relieving elements of a friendly unit under heavy fire. Successfully directing the attack of two of his platoons, he aided his company in attaining defensible ground and in preventing the enemy from firing into the regimental area. For three nights and two days he directed the fighting of his company against a numerically superior hostile force which occupied well-concealed positions on commanding ground. Foregoing rest, and despite badly frostbitten feet, he courageously exposed himself to heavy enemy fire, guiding and controlling the defense of his positions and supervising the evacuation of casualties. On 1 December, after having covered the movement of other regimental units, he was ordered to withdraw his company, the last unit to leave the original regimental defense perimeter. Despite a lack of artillery and air support, and although the enemy was in immediate pursuit and rapidly gaining advantageous firing positions, he successfully covered the movement by the skillful use of machine gun fire. On 7 December, when a strong hostile force penetrated the regimental defense perimeter and he was ordered to reinforce the unit under attack, he personally led his platoons into the penetrated areas during sub-zero temperatures and darkness, reformed the defense line and guided his sector in the repulse of the hostile assault. Hid daring initiative, outstanding leadership and superb courage in the face of enemy fire reflect the highest credit upon First Lieutenant Hancock and the United States Naval Service.