In
the name of the President of the United States, the Commanding
General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific takes pleasure in presenting
the SILVER STAR MEDAL to
HOSPITAL
CORPSMAN THIRD CLASS DANIEL DAVID LINK
UNITED
STATES NAVY
for
service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving
as a Corpsman with the First Platoon, Company M, Third Battalion,
Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations
against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic
of Vietnam.
On
15 February 1967, during Operation Desoto, the First Platoon,
as the leading element of the company, received intense enemy
automatic and small arms fire which wounded two Marines. Unhesitatingly,
Petty Officer LINK rushed across seventy-five meters of open,
fire-swept terrain to render first aid to the fallen men.
Upon
reaching the first wounded Marine, he applied first aid and
carried the injured man to a covered position. Quickly instructing
a nearby companion on providing first aid to the wounded man,
he again exposed himself to intense enemy fire and ran to
the second wounded Marine. With the assistance of a companion,
he carried the second Marine to a covered position where he
discovered that the Marine's heart had stopped.
Displaying
superior professional ability and presence of mind, Petty
Officer LINK skillfully performed a tracheotomy utilizing
an emergency airway tube and resuscitated the wounded Marine
with external cardiac massage. When the medical evacuation
helicopter arrived, he assisted the critically wounded Marine
aboard the aircraft and continued his treatment of the wounded
Marine during the flight to a medical facility. His exceptional
initiative and courageous actions undoubtedly saved the the
lives of two Marines and were an inspiration to all who observed
him.
By
his exemplary professionalism, resolute determination and
selfless devotion to duty, Petty Officer LINK upheld the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval
Service."
FOR
THE PRESIDENT,
V.
H. KRULAK
LIEUTENANT
GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS
COMMANDING
