The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Richard L. Pavlic (MCSN: 1180886), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Squad Leader of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 6 September 1952. Although painfully wounded when the forward outpost was hit by an intense enemy artillery and mortar barrage, followed by an aggressive assault by a numerically superior enemy force, Sergeant Pavlic fearlessly made his way through the heavy fire to control his squad in the defense of the position. When an enemy shell ignited a fire in the ammunition dump, causing the ammunition to explode, he unhesitatingly moved into the extremely dangerous area and personally extinguished the fire. With the fire fight ended and the squad ordered to return to friendly lines, he accounted for each of his men and supervised the evacuation of casualties before leaving the outpost. By his marked fortitude, aggressive fighting spirit and courageous initiative, Sergeant Pavlic served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.