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 [then Corporal] Mark M. Leachman (Leachmen) (ASN: RA-12320140), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a member of Company I, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against the enemy on 16 September 1950 near Taegu, Korea. While stationed at the company command post on Hill 174 as a runner, Sergeant Leachman learned that a sergeant of his platoon was lying seriously wounded in an exposed position on the forward slope of the hill. Sergeant Leachman immediately left the command post and moved to where he could aid the wounded sergeant. Displaying extreme courage and selflessness, he asked for covering fire, and then moved aggressively down the forward slope, completely disregarding the heavy enemy small arms fire directed on him. When he found he could not carry the wounded sergeant due to the intensity of the enemy fire, Sergeant Leachman, protecting the sergeant’s body with his own, crawled and dragged the wounded man to safety. Here, he dressed the sergeant’s wound and organized a litter team to evacuate him without delay. Sergeant Leachman’s gallantry saved the life of a wounded comrade at great risk to his own and reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.