The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Oliver P. Smith (MCSN: 0-920), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility as Commanding General, FIRST Marine Division, from 25 July 1950 to 23 April 1951. In this capacity, he was charged with the responsibility of preparing plans for the amphibious landing of his division at Inchon, Korea, while concurrently integrating the First Provisional Marine Brigade into the division. The thoroughness of his planning was evidenced by the outstanding combat effectiveness of the First Marine Division during the amphibious assault at Inchon, and the subsequent capture of the Capitol City of Seoul which severed the lines of supply and communication of major enemy forces and contributed in a large measure to their complete rout from southern Korea. Again in northern Korea when his division was faced, and later surrounded, by seven Chinese Communist divisions in the Chosin Reservoir area, General Smith, through his gallant, inspiring leadership and broad tactical knowledge, extricated his force with minimum loss of personnel and equipment while inflicting enormous casualties on the numerically superior enemy. General Smith, as one of the key combat commanders in the United Nations struggle against aggression, proved himself of inestimable value not only in directing vital military operations of combat units despite extreme difficulties, but in his diplomacy and tact in maintaining harmonious relations with units and agencies of other nations. The manifold duties and great responsibilities of coordinating United States and Foreign troops usually of brigade strength, in an unprecedented type of warfare were capably carried on by General Smith with clearly exceptional ingenuity, resourcefulness and leadership. He provided the United Nations Command in Korea with an efficiently operating combat division which enabled that command to contain and then hurl back both the North Korean Army and, later, the Chinese Communist Forces. His distinctive ability and diplomacy proved of marked international significance and contributed in a high degree to the United Nations campaign in Korea. The exceptionally meritorious service of General Smith reflects great credit on himself and is in keeping with the high traditions of the United States Marine Corps.