The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class James P. McGinnis (MCSN: 463166), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a member of a Machine Gun Section of Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 23 September 1950. Sent to procure ammunition for his machine gun which was pinned down under intense hostile automatic weapons fire, Private First Class McGinnis courageously proceeded to the supply point approximately five hundred yards across a fire-swept paddy. Skillfully observing the situation en route, he determined that the fire directed on his gun was coming from a farm house, whereupon he unhesitatingly assaulted the building, killing five of its occupants. Continuing on his mission, he obtained the ammunition, returned to his gun position and, finding the gun and its crew put out of action, salvaged what useable parts remained of the weapon, and made his way to another gun in his section with ammunition and parts to keep it in operation. By his daring initiative, aggressive determination and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk, Private First Class McGinnis upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.