The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Warrant Officer Sandy L. McLeod (MCSN: 0-57551), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Tank Platoon Commander of Company C, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on the night of 24 – 25 July 1953. Assigned the difficult and extremely hazardous mission of placing four of his tanks on a prominent main line of resistance position in order to provide close support for friendly infantry defending the area against a vicious attack by a numerically superior hostile force, Warrant Officer McLeod stubbornly held his ground and called down friendly mortar and artillery fire on his own position when his tank was surrounded by the enemy and cut off from friendly infantry support. When the hostile troops succeeded in climbing on his vehicle, he ordered the other tanks to bring down their fire on his tank while his crewmen hurled grenades at the enemy from inside the vehicle and, throughout a continuous series of determined hostile assaults, skillfully directed his platoon in delivering devastating fire on the enemy. By his outstanding leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and zealous devotion to duty, Warrant Officer McLeod was greatly responsible for the success achieved by his platoon in preventing the enemy from capturing the vital area and overrunning the infantry. His courageous actions served to inspire all who observed him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.