The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Jim T. Elkins (MCSN: 0-55880), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Rifle Platoon Commander of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 26 October 1952. With his platoon engaged in defending an outpost forward of the main line of resistance when it was assaulted by a numerically superior enemy force, Second Lieutenant Elkins skillfully directed his men in delivering deadly fire on the attackers. When the enemy diverted its force upon his unit, he personally led one squad forward of his defense perimeter to establish contact with an adjacent squad and, with the enemy launching an intense mortar and artillery barrage on his position, quickly moved his men to another side of the hill and away from the hostile fire. Although suffering serious concussion when an artillery round landed near him, he fearlessly exposed himself to heavy grenade, small-arms and automatic weapons fire to regroup his men and form a new defensive perimeter. When the combined fire power of his platoon and the outpost personnel inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy and forced them to withdraw, he proceeded to carry two wounded men at a time to a more protected area and, upon finding that his Corpsman had been wounded, personally administered first aid to the casualties. Later, when his platoon was subjected to a strong enemy attack, he directed his depleted unit in sweeping the crest of the hill with devastating fire, forcing back another enemy attempt to overrun the outpost. By his inspiring leadership, aggressive fighting spirit and courageous initiative, Second Lieutenant Elkins contributed materially to the success of his platoon in defending the outpost and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.