ROBERTO SERRANO, Hospital Corpsman Third Class, United States Navy. For extraordinary heroism as a Hospital Corpsman serving with an Assault Platoon in the First Marine Division in action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 12 September 1951. Hearing the snap of the fuse primer as he accidentally tripped the wire of a well hidden anti-personnel mine just before reaching the side of a wounded Marine, SERRANO unhesitatingly threw himself across the casualty and absorbed the shock of the explosion with his own body. Although wounded severely in the leg and back, and thrown several feet by the concussion, he gallantly crawled back to the casualty and administered first aid steadfastly refusing medical attention for his own wounds until he had completed his task. Still refusing a stretcher although unable to walk, he resolutely crawled part of the way to the aid station before allowing himself to be evacuated. His valiant action, heroic perseverance and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk reflect the highest credit upon SERRANO and the United States Naval Service.

Mr. Serrano resided in Southern California.