Marion D. Arnold

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Marion D. Arnold (668026), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine Infantry Company of the FIRST Marine Division, in Korea, on 26 September 1950. Private First Class Arnold was serving as a Squad Leader of a machine gun squad attached to a rifle platoon engaged in bitter house-to-house street fighting in the assault through the city of Seoul, Korea. He had his machine gun set up at a road block, and was delivering covering fire for the rifle platoon which was receiving heavy small arms and anti-tank gun fire. Unable to give the maximum effective fire from his position, he, upon his own initiative moved his gun across the street in the open, and in the zone of enemy fire from which he could deliver more effective fire on the enemy. An enemy anti-tank shell knocked him and his assistant gunner from their gun, seriously wounding the assistant gunner. Undaunted, and although still under heavy enemy small arms and anti-tank gun fire, Private First Class Arnold crawled back to his gun, placed it back in action and brought its fire to bear on the enemy, silencing the anti-tank gun and delivering such accurate fire that his supporting rifle platoon was enabled to successfully continue its advance. Private First Class Arnold’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.