The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Roland B. Leitensdorfer (MCSN: 653130), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Fire Team Leader of Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 23 February 1953. With his unit occupying a position well forward of the main line of resistance to protect a group of tanks which were in support of another unit’s activities, Corporal Leitensdorfer skillfully positioned his fire team in their sector of the defensive perimeter. Immediately afterwards, when the enemy launched a savage assault on the perimeter position, he exposed himself to the murderous hostile small arms fire to direct his men in delivering a large volume of deadly accurate fire upon the enemy. Although the brunt of the hostile attack was directed toward his fire team’s sector and he was painfully wounded, Corporal Leitensdorfer stubbornly continued to fire until the vicious assault was repulsed. When the action had subsided, he assisted in bringing his seriously wounded comrades to a Corpsman where they received medical attention. After returning to his position to prepare for another enemy attack, he fell unconscious from loss of blood and was evacuated. By his forceful leadership, indomitable courage and gallant devotion to duty, Corporal Leitensdorfer served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.