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
uwavering 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