The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Frederic A. Gessner (MCSN: 0-48834), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while attached to Supply Company, First Service Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 28 – 29 November 1950. Assigned the mission of defending the north end of a hill overlooking the town on the east with a contingent of American Soldiers, Republic of Korea soldiers and United States Marines, First Lieutenant Gessner arrived at his position about dusk and, quickly organizing his defense, prepared to meet the imminent hostile attack. After giving his own carbine to a neighboring soldier whose weapon had jammed, First Lieutenant Gessner continued to direct the defense unarmed, until overwhelming pressure from the numerically superior enemy force made his position untenable. Although suffering intense pain from multiple shrapnel wounds and partially blinded in one eye, he organized and conducted an orderly withdrawal and evacuation of the wounded into the friendly perimeter. His cool leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and heroic devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk reflect great credit upon First Lieutenant Gessner and the United States Naval Service.