The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS MEDAL to 

LIEUTENANT JOSEPH CAMPBELL

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

  For service as set forth in the following

  CITATION:

For extraordinary heroism while serving as Executive Officer of Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division, in connection with operations in the Republic of Vietnam.  On 15 June 1968 during operation MAMELUKE THRUST  in Quang Nam Province, Company I became heavily engaged with a large enemy force and sustained several casualties. As the company prepared to evacuate its wounded, an artillery round impacted nearby, killing the company commander, a platoon commander, and the company gunnery sergeant. 

Although seriously wounded by fragments, Lieutenant Campbell realized that he was his unit's only remaining officer and refused medical aid in order to assume command of the company.  Despite his weakened condition due to the loss of blood, he ensured that a landing zone was secured and selflessly directed the evacuation of the other casualties. When the medical evacuation helicopter arrived and immediately came under intense enemy ground fire, Lieutenant Campbell fearlessly moved among his men to direct suppressive fire on the hostile positions, enabling the helicopter to extract the casualties. 

Ignoring his weakened condition, he directed a second helicopter into the zone to complete the emergency medical evacuation. He subsequently succumbed to his wounds before he could be evacuated.  By his courage, inspiring leadership, and selfless devotion to duty despite the severity of his wounds, Lieutenant Campbell undoubtedly saved the lives of numerous Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.  He gallantly gave his life for his country.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to  

  CORPORAL DANIEL J. HIGNIGHT

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

  For service as set forth in the following

  CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Scout Observer with Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 August 1968, during Operation MAMELUKE THRUST, Company M became heavily engaged with a large North Vietnamese Army force in Quang Nam Province. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Corporal HIGNIGHT unhesitatingly volunteered to assist a fire team in attacking a hostile machine gun position, and as the Marines maneuvered toward the objective, the enemy attempted to halt their advance with several grenades. 

Disregarding his own safety, Corporal HIGNIGHT immediately commenced searching for the hostile position from which the grenades were coming and was seriously wounded. Ignoring his painful injury, he located the enemy emplacement and silenced it with a hand grenade, enabling the fire team to continue the assault against the North Vietnamese machine gun position. When one Marine was wounded and lay dangerously exposed to the intense enemy fire, Corporal HIGNIGHT fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain to the side of his injured comrade and moved him to a position of relative safety. 

After the Marines had reached the hostile machine gun and silenced it with a heavy volume of fire, Corporal HIGNIGHT entered the emplacement and, observing an enemy soldier alive, quickly subdued him in close combat and captured him. Although subsequently wounded again, he steadfastly refused medical evacuation and resolutely continued his determined efforts. His bold initiative and resolute determination inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission.

By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Corporal HIGNIGHT upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

  For the President,

  H. W. BUSE, JR.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL,  U. S. MARINE CORPS

COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

  CORPORAL GEORGE E. BRICK

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

  For service as set forth in the following

  CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Forward Air Controller with Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 August 1968, during Operation MAMELUKE THRUST, Company M was conducting a search and destroy operation in the village of Phu Loc in Quang Nam Province when the Marines became heavily engaged with a large North Vietnamese Army force. 

Alertly observing that the lead element was pinned down by intense mortar, antitank rocket and automatic weapons fire. Corporal BRICK unhesitatingly left his position of relative safety and ran across 100 meters of fire-swept terrain toward the point position, despite sustaining fragmentation wounds in his leg. Ignoring his painful injuries, he boldly maneuvered to a vantage point from which he skillfully commenced adjusting air strikes on the hostile emplacements.

Continuing his determined efforts until the hostile force was completely disorganized, he enabled his company to initiate an assault on the enemy position. Observing three Marines fall wounded during the initial moments of the attack, Corporal BRICK completely disregarded his own safety and exposed himself to the heavy volume of hostile fire as he aided in moving the casualties to a landing zone for medical evacuation.

Undaunted by constant enemy mortar fire, he steadfastly refused to seek cover while directing helicopters into the zone and assisting in embarking the wounded men. Although wounded in the arm and shoulder by enemy mortar fire impacting nearby, he resolutely remained and continued performing his life-saving duties until the seriousness of his wounds forced his evacuation on the following day.

By his courage, determined efforts and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal BRICK undoubtedly saved the lives of numerous Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

  For the President,

  H. W. BUSE, JR.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS

COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

  CAPTAIN FRANCIS D. PACELLO

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following

 CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the Commanding Officer of Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 August 1968, during Operation MAMELUKE THRUST, Company M was moving across an open area near the village of Phu Lac (1) in Quang Nam Province when the Marines suddenly came under intense mortar, rocket propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force. 

In the initial moments of the engagement, the lead element of Company M sustained two casualties who fell wounded only five meters from a hostile position. Rapidly assessing the situation, Captain PACELLO fearlessly rushed forward across 50 meters of fire-swept terrain to a vantage point from which he directed the movement and covering fire of supporting tanks. Then, with complete disregard for his own safety, he boldly maneuvered toward the injured Marines, and upon reaching their position, he was wounded in one arm by automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese soldier approximately five meters away. Ignoring his painful injuries, Captain PACELLO quickly killed the enemy soldier with a hand grenade and then moved the two casualties to a position of relative safety. 

Disregarding the accurate antitank rocket and mortar fire being directed at the tanks, he unhesitatingly climbed aboard one of the vehicles and commenced adjusting air strikes against the hostile emplacements, simultaneously coordinating an aggressive assault that forced the enemy to flee in panic and confusion. Continuing his determined efforts, he directed the establishment of a defensive perimeter and, despite the seriousness of his wounds, steadfastly refused medical evacuation until the following morning.

By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain PACELLO inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

  FOR THE PRESIDENT,

  H. W. BUSE, JR.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS

COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

  CORPORAL DURWARD E. TIMMONS, JR.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

  For service as set forth in the following

  CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 10 September 1968, Company I was participating in Operation MAMELUKE THRUST when the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit occupying well-concealed emplacements. 

Observing that the point man had been seriously wounded during the initial contact and lay dangerously exposed to the intense hostile fire, Corporal Timmons unhesitatingly raced through the hazardous area and pulled his injured companion to a relatively covered location behind a rice paddy dike. While he was rendering first aid to the casualty, Corporal Timmons and his comrade became separated from the remainder of their squad. 

When the squad was directed to withdraw to a more tenable position, Corporal Timmons ignored the hostile rounds impacting about him as he boldly stood in full view of the hostile soldiers, hurling hand grenades and delivering rifle fire which enabled his fellow Marines to safely redeploy. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in killing seven North Vietnamese Army soldiers and capturing a large quantity of weapons and equipment. 

By his courage, sincere concern for his fellow men and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal Timmons upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

  H. W. BUSE, JR.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS

COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC