The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Joseph R. Owen, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Mortar Section Commander, Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in Korea, on 27 November 1950. While on combat patrol, Second Lieutenant Owen’s company suddenly came under heavy small arms, automatic weapon and mortar fire from concealed enemy positions, resulting in numerous casualties. With the company fighting to extricate itself from its untenable situation and the numerically superior enemy force moving rapidly to encircle and cut them off, Second Lieutenant owen expertly delivered mortar fire with deadly effect to hamper enemy movement. When his mortar rounds were exhausted, he quickly reorganized his mortarmen and available headquarters personnel into an ad hoc rifle unit. Under incessant hostile fire and with total disregard for his own safety, Second Lieutenant Owen skillfully led his improvised unit in an attack with the other rifle platoons. When the enemy counterattacked through a gap between the advancing platoons, he fearlessly led his Marines into the midst of the onrushing enemy soldiers, wielding his carbine as a club, to repulse the enemy penetration. Although stunned by an exploding concussion grenade, Second Lieutenant Owen refused medical treatment and continued to lead his men, moving from Marine to Marine, shouting encouragement and directing their attack, while remaining fully exposed to hostile fire. As the enemy onslaught intensified in his sector, now shifted to bear primarily on the wounded Marines and attending corpsmen assembled at the company aid station, Second Lieutenant Owen again boldly led his small group in a spirited assault against the strong enemy weapons position that endangered the aid station. By his aggressive action in eliminating that enemy position, he and his men not only assured the survival of many wounded Marines, but facilitated the breakout of his company through surrounding enemy forces. Second Lieutenant Owen’s outstanding display of courage, unrelenting perseverance, and total devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.