The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Joseph Stanley Purcell (ASN: RA-13297077), United States Army, for gallantry in action as a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, in action against the enemy at Unsan, Korea, on 1 and 2 November 1950. When his company was pinned down by exceedingly heavy enemy fire, Corporal Purcell accepted the challenge of an enemy machine gun and brought fire to bear upon it with his own machine gun. After a period of fire and counter fire, Corporal Purcell skillfully succeeded in knocking out the enemy position. Later, when his unit was surrounded and forced to withdraw, he fearlessly disregarded his own safety and moved his weapon into open field, void of cover or concealment, where he engaged two enemy heavy machine guns that were firing on his company. When last seen by his comrades, Corporal Purcell was still at his position, firing relentlessly on the two enemy emplacements. His conspicuous courage and voluntary action drew the bulk of enemy fire upon himself and thus enabled his comrades to withdraw with a minimum of casualties. Corporal Purcell’s gallantry reflects great credit upon himself and upholds the highest traditions of the Military Service of the United States.