The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Kenneth R. Benson, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with operations against the enemy while serving as Rifleman, Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in Korea on 28 November 1950. The company was tasked with securing the Tokong Pass and providing security along the road between Hagaru and Yudam-ni. Private First Class Benson was manning a listening post during the early morning hours with another Marine forward to the main line of defense when Chinese soldiers attacked the company’s hill position in regimental strength. Private First Class Benson and the other Marine were returning to the company’s defense perimeter when an enemy hand grenade landed near them. He picked it up and threw it back towards the enemy, but it exploded wounding and temporarily blinding him. Unable to locate the main line of defense, hand grenades, and mortar fire, he and the other Marine manned a dangerously exposed position at the head of the ravine, which led to the company’s left flank and engaged the enemy. Although unable to use his weapon because of temporary blindness, he continuously reloaded the weapons of the other Marine to ensure accurate and effective fire at the attacking enemy, ultimately stopping the seizure of the top of Fox Hill. By his extraordinary heroism in the face of extreme danger, Private First Class Benson reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.