The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Leslie L. Davenport (MCSN: 0-34222), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Communications Officer of the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea from 2 to 4 November 1950. When the enemy launched a fanatical attack against the battalion command post area, First Lieutenant Davenport quickly organized his communications personnel into a provisional rifle platoon and personally placed them in defensive positions around the command post. Repeatedly exposing himself to the heavy barrage, he directed and controlled the effective fire of his men and, by his observation of muzzle blasts on one occasion, was able to direct accurate fire which destroyed a machine-gun position. Voluntarily leading a patrol to seek and destroy a hostile sniper nest later in the engagement, he succeeded in expeditiously carrying out his mission with no casualties. Observing an enemy machine-gun position firing into the battalion command post, he found an abandoned 60-mm mortar with ammunition close by while en route to attack the hostile emplacement and personally fired the weapon, destroying the enemy gun and all troops surrounding the position. By his forceful and determined leadership, bold tactics and heroic fighting spirit in the face of tremendous odds, First Lieutenant Davenport served as an inspiration to all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.