James E. Nicholson Jr.’s Silver Star citation

BY DIRECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THE SILVER STAR
IS PRESENTED TO
CORPORAL JAMES E. NICHOLSON, JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

For services set forth in the following citation.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as a Browning Automatic Rifleman in G Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, First Marine Division in the Republic of Korea on 22nd April 1951. During the late evening hours, Corporal (then Private First Class) Nicholson’s fire team came under intense enemy fire by a numerically superior enemy force. Despite being surrounded, Corporal Nicholson and his team courageously supplied fire against the enemy resulting in numerous enemy casualties. Although equipped with a malfunctioning weapon, he advanced under furious enemy automatic weapons fire and hand grenades to retrieve a seriously wounded Marine. Corporal Nicholson’s outstanding courage and daring initiative was a constant source of inspiration to his fire team, squad and platoon. His determination and daring despite overwhelming enemy fire resulted in the return of a seriously wounded Marine to a safe area and the ability of his platoon to hold the high ground in the face of superior enemy numbers. Corporal Nicholson was personally responsible for drawing the fire of and destroying particularly effective enemy machine gun with fire from his Browning automatic rifle. By his selfless dedication, daring initiative, and complete dedication to duty, Corporal Nicholson reflects great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Silver Star was not awarded until 2011… Nicholson was seriously wounded six months after the above actions and did not receive a Purple Heart until seven years later… After the war he became a doctor