The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Anthony Yaquinto (MCSN: 1137319), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Platoon Guide of Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on the night of 27 October 1952. When a numerically superior enemy force attacked a friendly outpost well forward of the main line of resistance, Sergeant Yaquinto effectively positioned his men to direct maximum effective fire upon the enemy and, after an enemy mortar and artillery barrage struck the outpost, causing numerous casualties, reorganized the remaining Marines to defend the area. Armed with a carbine and a rifle, he personally killed two attackers and wounded at least four others. As the enemy withdrew, he fearlessly moved up and down the trench line to insure that all the wounded were placed in covered positions. When the enemy launched a second attack, he and several other Marines engaged the foe in hand-to-hand combat in the trenches until it became necessary to effect a withdrawal because of the impossibility of repelling the overwhelming hostile force. As the enemy began to penetrate the unit’s defensive perimeter, he ordered the machine gunners to open fire and killed both of them, subsequently assuming a position at the entrance of the trench to prevent the enemy from entering. With a friendly artillery barrage finally forcing the enemy to withdraw, he once again checked the trench line to insure that no friendly casualties remained. By his outstanding courage, inspiring leadership and indomitable fighting spirit in the face of enemy fire, Sergeant Yaquinto contributed materially to the successful defense of the outpost and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.