Mike & H&S Companies 

Third Battalion, Fifth Marines

Veterans of the Vietnam War

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