Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Corporal

    Batallion:

    2d Battalion

    Regiment:

    7th Marines

    Division:

    1st Marine Division (Rein.)

    Action Date:

    July 5, 1952

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Raymond J. Rackow, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Squad Leader, Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 5 July 1952. During the early morning hours, the Third platoon conducted a raid on a Chinese-held outpost located on a hilltop in no man’s land. Corporal Rackow and his squad entered the enemy trench line and engaged the enemy soldiers. After clearing the enemy from the trench line, he carried two critically wounded Marines down the hill to a place of relative safety to await evacuation. Corporal Rackow and another Marine returned to the hilltop to recover the body of a Marine who had been killed in action. After returning once again to the hilltop, which was receiving enemy mortar fire, and finding no further Marine casualties or wounded enemy soldiers he could bring back as prisoners of war, he returned to the base of the hill where he found another critically wounded Marine. Due to wounds he had received in the initial engagement with the enemy, he was unable to move the Marine. After dressing the Marine’s wounds, he moved toward his unit where he found a Hospital Corpsman who he led back to the wounded Marine. By his aggressive determination, untiring efforts, and loyal devotion to duty in the face of extreme danger, Corporal Rackow reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.