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

 

SECOND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM A. RAWSON

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

 

For service as set forth in the following

 

CITATION:

 

          For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as the Platoon Commander, First Platoon, Company I, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in the Republic of Vietnam on 2 June 1967. During Operation UNION II in Quang Tin Province, Second Lieutenant Rawson distinguished himself while leading his platoon in an assault against a prepared and entrenched North Vietnamese Army force. When ordered to seize a heavily contested tree line across a rice field about 100 meters to his front, Second Lieutenant Rawson carefully organized his men and bravely led them through available cover, and launched an assault upon the objective. As the platoon took cover under devastating grazing automatic weapons and rifle fire from a determined enemy, he immediately requested supporting arms and set up a base of fire. Observing one of his squad leaders seriously wounded and knocked down by enemy fire, he unhesitatingly left his position and courageously rushed 30 meters across the fire swept rice field to cover and protect the badly wounded Marine. While he was administering first aid and covering the wounded man, they were both hit by enemy fire and mortally wounded. Through his daring initiative and intrepid fighting spirit against numerically superior enemy forces, the enemy was fixed in place, permitting adjacent units to flank the objective and overrun the position with minimum casualties. Second Lieutenant Rawson’s outstanding courage, resolute leadership and valiant devotion to duty served to inspire all who observed him and was in keeping with highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

 

For the President,

 

 

 

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY