Robert D. Hepler

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Robert D. Hepler (647176), Sergeant, 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 (Rein), FMF, in Korea, on 6 December 1950. Sergeant Hepler, serving as a machine gun squad leader, had his squad positioned on an icy snow-covered ridge when the company’s position was assaulted by approximately a battalion of enemy forces near his position. The enemy placed two 60-mm. mortars and one light machine gun into support of their attack and began firing. Due to a small rise in ground in front of his machine gun, the enemy was masked from the fire of his gun. On his own initiative, he crawled through the snow under heavy automatic and small arms fire to the rise of ground in enemy territory. Reaching this vantage point, he stood up and sprayed the enemy mortar and machine gun positions with his sub-machine gun, thus neutralizing the enemy positions. Returning to his squad through constant enemy small arms fire to replenish his ammunition and displace the machine gun, he enemy machine gun once again commenced firing. He returned over the same enemy fire-swept area and single-handedly put the enemy machine gun completely out of action. His outstanding display of initiative and courageous leadership, without regard for his own personal safety, inspired all who observed him and materially aided in the defense of his company’s position. Sergeant Hepler’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.