George F. Harter

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to George F. Harter (1095182), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine Infantry Battalion of the FIRST Marine Division, FMF, in Korea, on 17 May 1951. Corporal Harter, a rifleman, was manning a position in the company defensive perimeter when the enemy launched a fanatical attack with overwhelming numbers. Completely ignoring the withering hail of small arms and machine gun fire, he repeatedly exposed himself to fire accurate volleys with his rifle, killing or wounding many of the enemy who were attempting to overrun his sector. When his squad was taken under heavy fire by an enemy machine gun, he and another member of the squad left their foxholes and fiercely assaulted it, killing the crew and capturing the weapon. Corporal Harter’s courageous actions contributed materially to the successful repulse of the enemy attack, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.