The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Franklin J. Murphy, Jr. (MCSN: 0-47052), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as a Rifle Platoon Leader of Company D, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 12 September 1951. When the platoon was pinned down by a volume of devastating fire while he was leading an attack against a group of strongly defended enemy positions, First Lieutenant Murphy, although painfully wounded, refused to be evacuated and bravely made his way through the fire-swept area to reorganize his unit. In the absence of a Corpsman, he personally treated the wounded and, rallying his men around him, led the platoon in a daring assault in the face of intense hostile fire, enabling his unit to secure a commanding sector of the terrain and inflict heavy casualties upon the enemy. Continuing to press the attack until the platoon had seized its final objective on the following morning, First Lieutenant Murphy, although again seriously wounded, refused to allow himself to be evacuated until he had supervised the reorganization of his unit. His inspiring leadership, exceptional courage and selfless devotion to the fulfillment of a vital mission were major factors in the success achieved by the company and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.