The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Vail P. Carpenter (NSN: 3930857), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and meritorious devotion to duty, as the senior surviving member of the crew of the U.S.S. MAGPIE (AMS-25) which was mined off the East Coast of Korea on 1 October 1950. Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carpenter refused to leave his ship, which had been literally disintegrated by a mine, until he made absolutely certain that no living person remained on board, personally making a complete search of the rapidly sinking ship. Then by superb leadership and cool courage, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carpenter assisted all surviving personnel to a place of safety on board the one undamaged and overloaded life raft. Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carpenter remained clear of the raft in order to avoid further overloading and was the last man to be pulled from the water during the subsequent rescue. The conduct displayed by Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carpenter throughout reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.