The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Thomas A. Burchick (NSN: 3650278), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as a Corpsman attached to the FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 29 May 1951. Serving as a Medical Corpsman in a rifle platoon, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Burchick was moving with the platoon over precipitous terrain in the attack of a strongly defended enemy hill position. When the order to fix bayonets was given, he, realizing that the platoon was under strength and needed every man in the assault, courageously fixed his bayonet and charged forward with the riflemen. The enemy opened up immediately with intense and accurate automatic weapons and small arms fire, and two men fell wounded. Moving without hesitation through the heavy fire to reach them, he skillfully rendered first aid, and then seized an automatic rifle from one fallen man and in defense of the wounded he continued the assault, storming a bunker and capturing three enemy soldiers. When he had expended his ammunition, he quickly seized an enemy machine gun and charged forward again through withering enemy fire, and was in the first wave to sweep over the crest of the hill. Observing four enemy troops who had been by-passed in the assault preparing to fire on his comrades behind him, he shouted a warning to a comrade and opened fire, killing the enemy soldiers. When groups of enemy opened fire from concealed bunkers, causing further casualties, he fearlessly and with complete disregard for his own personal safety advanced to within scant feet of the bunkers to drag the wounded to safety. When the position had been secured, an enemy mortar barrage hit the position, causing several more casualties, and he himself was painfully wounded. Disregarding the severe pain of his wounds he moved again through heavy enemy fire to reach them and render first aid. Throughout the difficult assault, his aggressiveness, great personal bravery, and professional skill while under enemy fire were an inspiration to all who observed him and aided materially in the success achieved by the company. Hospital Corpsman Third Class Burchick’s display of outstanding courage and devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.