The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Richard J. Blasinski (MCSN: 1071442), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with Company H, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), during action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 27 November 1950. When his unit was attacked and overrun by a numerically superior hostile force, Corporal Blasinski quickly reorganized his squad an deployed them to localize the enemy penetration. Moving from end to end of his unit, he placed the men in advantageous firing positions, ignoring the heavy enemy fire directed on the area. Courageously remaining in an exposed position, he competently and effectively supervised return fire which directly aided the company in halting the hostile advance. During the brief respite which followed, he evacuated his wounded and, on his own initiative, skillfully improved his defenses. When the enemy attacked again, he boldly led his men through intense small arms, machine gun and grenade fire, engaging the hostile troops in fierce hand-to-hand combat, dislodging the enemy from their well-entrenched positions and securing the flank. Covering the reorganization of the company, he successfully warded off hostile probes until the remainder of the unit was in position. By his aggressive determination, outstanding leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of heavy enemy opposition, Corporal Blasinski upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.