The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Marvin F. Jay (ASN: RA-19335617), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company D, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, in action against an armed enemy on 1 September 1950 in the vicinity of Songha-dong, Korea. On that date Sergeant Jay was leader of a heavy machine gun squad attached to a rifle company which was defending high ground on the right flank of the regiment. During the night of 1 September 1950 the company was attacked by a numerically superior enemy force, which succeeded in penetrating the company’s perimeter. During the engagement the rifle troops were forced to withdraw, leaving Sergeant Jay’s machine gun squad exposed to the enemy. Realizing that his squad could not maintain their position, he ordered them to withdraw, while he himself, armed with a pistol, remained behind to cover their withdrawal. When his pistol jammed, Sergeant Jay obtained a carbine and fearlessly advanced against the attacking enemy, hurling hand grenades and firing his weapon. In his single-handed effort to halt the enemy, Sergeant Jay killed 15 enemy soldiers before he was wounded and was forced to withdraw to his squad’s new position. After obtaining treatment at the aid station he returned to the lines and led his squad in their defense against the continuing enemy assaults. His courageous leadership so inspired his comrades that they withstood all of the enemy onslaughts and defeated their efforts to break through and threaten the security of the right flank of the division. The gallantry and high devotion to duty displayed on this occasion by Sergeant Jay reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the fine traditions of the military service.