The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Thomas F. Lyons (MCSN: 1097382), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Sergeant of Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 3 February 1953. Although subjected to heavy enemy small arms and mortar fire during the final stage of a company raid on two strongly fortified hill positions, Staff Sergeant Lyons fearlessly exposed himself to the hostile fire to lead his men up and onto the objective, aggressively searching out the enemy in the trenches, bunkers and tunnels. Moving continuously through the hostile positions, he directed his unit in the delivery of accurate interdiction fire which was instrumental in repelling an enemy counterattack. During the withdrawal to the base of the hill, he again exposed himself to the intense enemy fire to assist in recovering the bodies of a friendly machine gun crew and, upon reaching the bottom of the hill, directed the evacuation of the wounded in the face of continuous enemy sniper fire. Although painfully wounded while leading a stretcher party with the last casualty across a rice paddy under a barrage of artillery fire, he maintained control of the situation and carried the wounded Marine to safety on his back. By his exceptional courage, fortitude and indomitable fighting spirit, Staff Sergeant Lyons served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.