The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade (DC) Morton I. Silver, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Dental Officer attached to the Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 27 November to 4 December 1950. On the night of 27 November 1950, when the Regimental Aid Station was under attack by a numerically superior enemy force employing small arms, machine guns and grenades, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Silver, serving as Regimental Dentist, with absolute disregard for his own personal safety, repeatedly and fearlessly exposed himself to heavy and direct enemy fire to assist the Regimental Surgeon administer aid and comfort to the regimental casualties. As the attack increased in intensity, he unhesitatingly reorganized a section of Corpsmen and integrated them into the receiving station, thereby insuring that orderly, rapid care of casualties could continue. On 3 December 1950, while the regiment was on the march to Hagaru-ri, Korea, enemy grenades were dropped from positions on mountain sides overlooking the road into a section of the main body he was assigned. Immediately he moved back to the area of the explosions and administered aid to two wounded Marines, then directed their evacuation to vehicles in the march. On another occasion, during the same day, although the area was subjected to grazing machine gun and a barrage of mortar fire, he fearlessly moved to an exposed area, picked up and carried two litter patients that had been previously cared for to passing vehicles, thereby undoubtedly preventing them from receiving further wounds. Between 0100 and 0400 on 4 December 1950, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Silver, at great risk to his person, assumed command of the confusion resulting from an overturned truck and trailer which pinned four Marines in the wreckage. The truck carrying patients, parachutes and primer cord had slid off the icy road and overturned down an embankment and patients, parachute rigging and explosive became a tangle. Within a period of twenty minutes, he had successfully extricated all Marines and began administering aid to the injured. Not having a splint available, he broke pieces of boards from the trailer with which to make adequate splints for the patient suffering from a compound fracture of both legs. For approximately three hours he administered aid and loaded on passing vehicles twenty patients that were in the wrecked vehicle and trailer. His gallant aggressive actions, constant efficient application of medical assistance and continued disregard for his own life were an inspiration to all who observed him, and directly contributed to the high state of morale within his regiment. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Silver’s display of outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.