The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Merrill Lafayette Norton (MCSN: 0-49632), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Rifle Platoon Commander of Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 23 April 1951. When his position was subjected to a series of vicious attacks during the hours of darkness by a numerically superior enemy force, First Lieutenant Norton, realizing that a penetration of his critical sector would seriously jeopardize the entire battalion position, courageously exposed himself to devastating enemy automatic-weapons, hand grenade and small-arms fire to move among his men, exhorting them to hold at all costs. By his inspiring leadership and skillful direction of supporting fires, First Lieutenant Norton succeeded in repelling successive thrusts by large numbers of hostile troops, which resulted in the enemy’s complete rout with heavy losses. His outstanding courage, initiative and indomitable fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.