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