The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Manuel H. Hirata (MCSN: 337367), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Sergeant of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 8 March 1951. During a platoon-sized raid against a steep ridge line defended by a determined enemy force occupying well-constructed emplacements, Sergeant Hirata led his squad in a vicious assault against a portion of the objective. Fearlessly exposing himself to intense and accurate enemy automatic weapons and small arms fire, he moved single-handedly from bunker to bunker, and succeeded in neutralizing the hostile emplacements with hand grenades. By his exceptional fortitude, daring initiative and aggressive fighting spirit, Sergeant Hirata served to inspire all who observed him and enabled the remainder of the platoon to advance rapidly and secure the objective, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.