Edwin P. Smith

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edwin P. Smith, Jr. (NSN: 0-412097), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Wave Guide while attached to Underwater Demolition Team ONE during the amphibious assault against Inchon, Korea, on 15 September 1950. As LVT Wave Guido for the first assault wave on the Blue Beach area, he contributed greatly to the precise timing and coordination with which these operations were stages. When it was found necessary to divert waves scheduled for Blue Beach ONE, he remained in the immediate vicinity of the beach under enemy fire and personally guided successive waves to Blue Beach THREE. When a hospital boat making an attempt to evacuate a casualty from the left flank of Beach ONE was driven off by hostile fire Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Smith directed the beaching of his assault boat to remove the casualty and transferred him to the hospital boat off shore. Upon completion of the assault phase, he led rescue boats and evacuated a detachment of the landing force from the seawall of the Inchon Tidal Basin, while under enemy fire. His inspiring leadership, courage, and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edwin P. Smith, Jr. (NSN: 0-412097), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Underwater Demolition Team ONE and serving with Special Operations Group, Amphibious Group ONE, Pacific Fleet, in night demolition raids against targets 200 to 300 miles behind enemy lines on the east coast of North Korea during the period 12 to 16 August 1950. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Smith particularly distinguished himself. Serving as a scout and swimmer for the Special Operations Group, he swam ashore from a rubber boat in the face of unknown enemy opposition, reconnoitered each objective area and then signaled the balance of the raiding group to land their rubber boats. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Smith then supervised the rigging of each objective for demolition and remained ashore after the raider group had left the beach to pull fuses and initiate each explosion. As a result of his conspicuous and outstanding bravery during three demolition raids, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Smith materially assisted in the destruction of three railroad tunnels and two railroad bridges along the enemy main coastal line of supply and communications. His bravery, gallantry, and outstanding devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.