The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Jesse B. Swafford (MCSN: 980245), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Machine Gun Section Leader in Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces during a dangerous patrol mission in Korea on 26 November 1950. When the enemy attacked the leading assault platoon with automatic weapons fire at point-blank range, Sergeant Swafford immediately put his machine gun into action and delivered accurate fire which forced the hostile troops to withdraw from their positions. Voluntarily assuming charge after the enemy subsequently launched a fierce counterattack in force from the front and left flank, killing the rifle platoon leader and platoon sergeant and wounding four other Marines, he reorganized the platoon and moved it to a favorable position where he gained fire superiority and then evacuated the wounded who were lying in the hostile lines. His courageous initiative, aggressive leadership and indomitable fighting spirit reflect great credit upon Sergeant Swafford and the United States Naval Service.