The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Seaman Marvin L. French, United States Navy, for heroic achievement as a volunteer member of an armed whaleboat crew attached to the U.S.S. Murrelet, during action against enemy forces in Hongwon Roads, Korea, on the night of 31 May 1952. When the armed boat, deep in unswept waters, was engaged in an attempt to capture two enemy sampans and ten North Korean soldiers, a hand grenade was thrown into the whaleboat without warning, killing the boat coxswain, wounding two others, and badly damaging the boat. Unshaken by the suddenness of this attack and the hail of small arms fire that followed, Seaman French stood in an exposed position and instantly returned a heavy volume of fire so effectively that all enemy personnel were knocked out of action, without inflicting further casualties on the armed boat crew. His daring courage and complete disregard for his own safety were directly responsible for the destruction of the enemy and the survival of the outnumbered armed boat crew. His zealous devotion to duty throughout reflects the greatest credit upon himself and was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. [The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.]