The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technical Sergeant Stephen P. Compoly (MCSN: 293644), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Ordnance Chief of the First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 23 and 24 April 1951. Assigned to a machine gun squad to reinforce the defensive fires of the battalion, Technical Sergeant Compoly skillfully delivered effective fire from his weapon against a numerically superior enemy attempting to break through an extremely vulnerable sector of the battalion perimeter of defense. Despite devastating hostile fire, he remained continuously at his machine gun and repelled repeated enemy attacks throughout the night. Although painfully wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire on the following day during an extremely critical stage in the operation while voluntarily directing the fire of the lead tank in a column moving to break out of an enemy encirclement, he continued to direct the fire of the tank until he was relieved and ordered to fall back for medical treatment. By his outstanding courage, resolute determination and gallant devotion to duty, Technical Sergeant Compoly contributed materially to the success of his battalion and served to inspire all who observed him, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.