The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Joseph F. Lawler (MCSN: 1170277), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Machine Gunner of Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 5 July 1952. Severely wounded by an enemy grenade while his squad was defending an outpost against a numerically superior enemy force firmly entrenched on high ground, Private First Class Lawler steadfastly continued to fire his machine gun and skillfully assisted a Corpsman in rendering aid to the wounded. Single-handedly manning the weapon after his assistant gunner was also wounded, he courageously engaged the enemy in intermittent fire-fights for over a one-hour period until his unit was reinforced and ordered to withdraw. Despite the intense pain of his wounds, he selflessly carried extra equipment and assisted other wounded to friendly lines in the face of enemy mortar fire before he collapsed and was evacuated. By his indomitable fighting spirit, marked fortitude and unyielding devotion to duty in the face of heavy odds, Private First Class Lawler served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.