The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Nicholas A. Canzona (MCSN: 0-48858), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Officer-in-Charge of a four-man demolition team attached to Company A, First Engineer Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 7 December 1950. After all forces had cleared the town of Hagaru-ri, of bridges and other vital installations and, with the enemy entering the far end of the city, remained at his post until the rearmost elements of friendly forces had safely cleared to a point several hundred yards distant before he detonated the explosive charges. Leading his team through approximately five thousand North Korean civilian refugees to each the last elements of the rear guard following the completion of his mission, he continued his task of destruction throughout the night despite heavy enemy fire. By his superb leadership, courage and unrelenting devotion to duty in the face of grave peril, First Lieutenant Canzona prevented the enemy from using vital facilities and materially delayed their advance, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.