The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Private First Class Frederick J. Markland (MCSN: 665284), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Railroad Train Guard, attached to Company C, First Amphibian Tractor Battalion, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea on 6 November 1950. During an enemy ambush of his train while stopped in Kowon, Private Markland volunteered to try to start he train moving despite the intense hostile fire. Discovering a wounded Marine lying on the ground near the engine, he carried the casualty to a protected area, returned to the train and, with the assistance of the engineer, started to back the train after failing to move the engine forward. When a heavy concentration of enemy small-arms fire and grenades killed the engineer and wounded himself, he withdrew from the cab and killed two of the enemy who were attempting to board the train. Returning to his platoon commander, he assisted in defending a small group of wounded Marines isolated in a coach. After enemy troops forced their way into the car and fired at point-blank range into the bodies of those so badly wounded that they were unable to defend themselves, he feigned death during a brutal attack on his face and remained in the car until daylight when he escaped with one other wounded survivor. Traveling on foot a distance of ten miles to a place of safety with friendly forces, he refused medical attention until he had completed a full report of the ambush to the executive officer of his company. His outstanding courage, daring initiative and gallant devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon Private Markland and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.