Raymond M. Horgan

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Raymond M. Horgan (1116447), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with a Marine Artillery Battalion of the FIRST Marine Division (Rein), FMF, in Korea, on 29 November 1950. Private First Class Horgan was a member of a provisional infantry platoon which had been ordered to reinforce a Marine Infantry Company in assaulting and securing Hill 1449 near Hagaru-ri, Korea. When a machine gun on the enemy side of the crest of the hill was captured and being used to place accurate fire on the enemy, the gun developed a stoppage and seven of the nine Marines protecting the gun were wounded. Despite the fact that the machine gun was subjected to heavy enemy small arms, machine gun and mortar fire and he had no previous experience as a machine gunner, Private First Class Horgan voluntarily exposed himself to the intense enemy fire and assumed the duties as gunner. After clearing the stoppage in the gun, he remained in the exposed position and placed accurate and effective fire on the numerically superior enemy throughout four coordinated enemy attacks, inflicting many casualties among the enemy. Despite the sub-zero temperatures and the heavy enemy fire, his actions were an inspiration to all who observed him and were directly instrumental in denying the enemy the highest portion of the hill thereby preventing the enemy from penetrating the defense perimeter. Private First Class Horgan’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.