Bert L. Elliott

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Bert L. Elliott (291533), Technical Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine Weapons Company of the FIRST Marine Division, FMF, at Hagaru-ri, Korea, on 28 and 29 November 1950. Technical Sergeant Elliott, regularly a heavy machine gun platoon sergeant, was in command of 28 men forming the right flank of a defensive line on a ridge, composed in whole of hastily assembled segments of various Army and Marine units. Strong enemy forces fiercely attacked the entire sector of this unit. Under pressure from enemy mortars, small arms fire, and grenades, all the units withdrew down the steep hill to his left flank, leaving this flank exposed. Realizing the vital necessity of holding the remaining key feature, which commanded a main part of the entire defense perimeter, Technical Sergeant Elliott was determined to hold his position despite the exposed flank caused by the withdrawal and the violent enemy fire. Without regard for his own personal safety, he went up and down his lines, rallying his men with encouraging words and urging the faltering ones to maintain their positions. Technical Sergeant Elliott further supervised and personally conducted the wounded from the hill and returned to his own position while under intense mortar and artillery fire. He further exposed himself to enemy fire and displayed a high degree of professional skill by calmly calling for, and observing artillery and mortar fire, which inflicted numerous casualties upon the enemy. The following morning the defense perimeter was shortened and his left flank was secured with a unit of fifty men. During the night his left flank was again exposed, due to extremely heavy enemy fire which forced members of that flank to withdraw to new positions. With his left flank exposed, he continued to expose himself without regard for his personal safety as he skillfully called for mortar and artillery fire and threw numerous hand grenades to prevent enemy from occupying high ground to the front. His brilliant leadership and undaunted devotion to duty were a great inspiration to his command and were directly responsible for their remaining in position. Technical Sergeant Elliott’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.