The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Spencer Hewitt Jarnagin (MCSN: 0-49956), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Platoon Commander in Company G, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 21 September 1950. While under enemy machine gun fire, Second Lieutenant Jarnagin fearlessly led his platoon into a position from which he could more effectively launch an attack, repeatedly exposing himself to hostile fire to position the members of his platoon and personally direct their fire and that of his machine guns. Continuously running through enemy fire to carry out his mission, Second Lieutenant Jarnagin was fatally wounded by an intense hostile machine gun barrage. His courageous initiative and heroic actions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.