The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Francis J. Devine (MCSN: 637250), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Gunner in a Rocket Section, Company A, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 21 September 1950. Although suffering from a painful shoulder wound inflicted by an enemy hand grenade during heavy street fighting earlier in the day, Private First Class Devine remained with his company which had assumed a defensive position along an elevated road bed. When his company was subjected to heavy and accurate point blank fire during night attacks on four separate occasions by a numerically superior hostile force supported by five T-34 tanks which closed to within twenty yards of the positions, he voluntarily left his foxhole, moved to a fully exposed position on top of the road bed and brought his 3.5-inch rocket launcher to bear on the enemy tanks. With cool precision, he scored a direct hit on one tank and, during subsequent firing, scored hits on two additional tanks, thereby causing them to withdraw. By his bold and aggressive actions, Private First Class Devine contributed directly to the successful repulse of the four enemy attacks. His outstanding courage, initiative and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.