The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Francis A. Brennan, Jr. (MCSN: 655820), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of Company D, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 2 November 1950. During the company attack against a strongly defended enemy hill position, Corporal Brennan skillfully led his squad to the top of the strategic hill and quickly established a defensive line. With his unit sustaining several casualties when a numerically superior hostile force almost immediately counterattacked, employing intense and accurate automatic weapons, small arms and hand grenade fire, he unhesitatingly exposed himself to the devastating enemy fire to cover the removal of the wounded and the withdrawal of his men to more tenable positions. After exhausting his supply of ammunition, he continued to engage the attackers by catching and picking up their hand grenades and throwing them back in their midst, thereby gaining time for his men to organize a new defensive line. By his outstanding leadership and great personal valor in the face of overwhelming odds, Corporal Brennan upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.