Lawrence A. O’Neil

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Lawrence A. O’Neil (0-54868), Second Lieutenant, 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 (Rein.), FMF, in Korea, on 15 August 1952. Serving as leader of a machine gun platoon, Second Lieutenant O’Neil exposed himself continually to intense artillery, mortar and automatic weapons fire during an attack on his position. When the Marines manning one machine gun were wounded and evacuated, he personally operated the weapon, delivering effective fire on the enemy and causing an estimated fifteen enemy casualties. Sighting an enemy mortar that was delivering fire on the friendly position, he carried the machine gun to another position on the defense line, set up the gun and put the enemy mortar out of action. When his machine gun was destroyed by enemy fire he left his position, exposing himself to heavy artillery fire to carry three wounded Marines to cover. Upon hearing that a Marine had been killed on the forward slope, he volunteered to lead a detail which went forward under heavy enemy fire to recover the body. Second Lieutenant O’Neil’s gallant and courageous actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.