The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman Francis G. Felicia (NSN: 7309533), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Medical Corpsman attached to a Marine Infantry Company of the FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in Korea, on 9 August 1952. With the platoon pinned down by intense mortar and automatic weapons fire delivered by the enemy at extremely close range, Hospitalman Felicia bravely moved from one position to another to administer first aid and to assist in the evacuation of the wounded. Although painfully wounded by a shell fragment as he moved forward under a barrage of enemy hand grenades, he succeeded in removing a wounded Marine to safety and in rendering aid to the stricken man, remaining at his post for approximately five hours and administering medical treatment to an estimated fifty casualties. By his courageous initiative, marked fortitude and selfless devotion to duty, Hospitalman Felicia served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.