The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Wardell J. Taylor, Jr. (MCSN: 113607), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the First Service Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 30 November 1950. At approximately 0200, during a fanatical enemy attack on the northern sector of the Hagaru-ri perimeter, an enemy white phosphorus mortar shell hit a stack of gasoline drums containing eighty octane gasoline and set fire to approximately seventy-five drums. The explosion and resulting fire threatened other drums of gasoline and diesel fuel stacked on all sides of the burning drums. Despite heavy snow on the ground, flaming gasoline was rolling along the ground in close proximity to other drums. Corporal Taylor, realizing the critical shortage of Class III supplies, voluntarily and with absolute disregard for his own personal safety, ran to the burning drums and attempted to confine the fire to just one stack of drums. Although he drew heavy enemy small arms and machine gun fire and he was silhouetted in the bright light , he not only fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire but to intense heat and flames from exploding drums. By his gallant initiative, unhesitant actions and utter disregard for his life, he successfully extinguished the spreading flames and was able to confine the fire to one stack of Class III drums, thereby saving the remaining critical supplies in the dump. Corporal Taylor’s display of outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.