The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Hospitalman Joseph F. Melnicki (NSN: 7185810), United States Navy, for gallantry in action as a Medical Corpsman attached to the FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), on 1 June 1951, while conducting a tank-infantry reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Yanggu, Korea. When his unit suddenly came under heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire, several casualties were inflicted on the foremost elements of the patrol. Hospitalman Melnicki, heedless of his own personal safety, exposed himself to the intense shelling in order to hasten the aid of several wounded Marines. While treating one, Hospitalman Melnicki suffered a painful shrapnel wound in the leg from a near by explosion. Although bleeding profusely and suffering severe pain, he courageously completed administering to the wounded men; then crawled to the aid of other wounded Marines in the area. Due to heavy fire throughout the area, it was impossible to evacuate the wounded by ambulance or litters. Therefore, Hospitalman Melnicki contacted two nearby tanks, then assisted and supervised the evacuation of the critically wounded by this means. It was only after all the wounded men in the area had been treated and evacuated, that Hospitalman Melnicki, nearing the point of exhaustion, did himself submit to medical aid and evacuation. His devotion to duty and self-sacrificing courage under vicious fire were directly responsible for saving the lives of many of his fallen companions, and served as an inspiration to all who observed him.