The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Wayne E. Rollings (MCSN: 0-107099), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with the First Force Reconnaissance Company, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 27 March 1969, Second Lieutenant Rollings and his ten-man patrol were heli-lifted into the Duc Duc District of Quang Nam Province with the mission either to apprehend or kill a North Vietnamese Army soldier likely to be carrying documents of intelligence interest. Encountering what appeared to be a well-used enemy trail, Second Lieutenant Rollings established an ambush in a thick bamboo grove beside the road and, after allowing a hostile force to pass his position, killed a lagging enemy soldier carrying a large pack. As Second Lieutenant Rollins was dragging the man off the trail, preparatory to searching him, he detected two North Vietnamese Army soldiers peering from the nearby undergrowth and quickly killed them. Realizing that his patrol was now vulnerable to attack, he directed his men into a defensive perimeter and, when four hostile soldiers appeared along the route taken by the larger unit, directed his men’s fire upon them, personally killing three of the enemy. Aware that his men were now surrounded by the hostile force, he called for fixed wing support and skillfully coordinated air strikes with the fire of his men as he maneuvered the team to a landing zone from which they were extracted safely. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in seventeen enemy soldiers killed with minimal friendly casualties. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Second Lieutenant Rollings contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Navy Cross
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Silver Star
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Navy Cross
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
First LieutenantBatallion:
1st Reconnaissance BattalionDivision:
1st Marine Division (Rein.) FMFAction Date:
September 18, 1969
Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and MedalsThe President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Wayne E. Rollings (MCSN: 0-107099), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism on 18 September 1969 as a patrol leader with the First Reconnaissance Company, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, during operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. While First Lieutenant Rollings was leading a long-range reconnaissance patrol deep into enemy-controlled territory in Quang Nam Province, the point man spotted twelve enemy soldiers in almost hidden emplacements and immediately fired at the hostile troops. Observing that the point man’s weapon had become inoperable, First Lieutenant Rollings dashed across the fire-swept terrain and positioned himself between the point man and the enemy. Although small-arms fire tore his clothing and ripped his gas mask, and fragments of an enemy grenade struck him in the face and legs, First Lieutenant Rollings continued to deliver suppressive fire, accounting for several enemy casualties and forcing the remainder of the hostile troops to withdraw. Assuming the dangerous point position, and once again faced with intense enemy fire, he charged up an enemy-held knoll in a fiercely determined assault, resulting in the complete routing of the enemy. Despite the pain of his injuries, First Lieutenant Rollings continued to expose himself to fire from the retreating enemy while he skillfully directed air strikes upon all possible routes of egress. By his courage, dynamic leadership, and unfaltering devotion to duty, he contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his patrol’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
First LieutenantBatallion:
1st Reconnaissance BattalionDivision:
1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMFAction Date:
April 11, 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Wayne E. Rollings (MCSN: 0-107099), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Patrol Leader with the First Force Reconnaissance Company, FIRST Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 11 April 1969 while leading an eight-man reconnaissance patrol deep in the enemy-controlled territory, First Lieutenant Rollings observed numerous camp fires on a nearby ridgeline which indicated the presence of a large hostile force. Subsequently detecting approximately seventy-five soldiers attempting to locate his unit, he skillfully adjusted supporting Marine artillery fire to within thirty meters of his position, which eliminated the immediate hostile threat but caused his men to come under a heavy volume of enemy mortar fire. Boldly maneuvering about the fire-swept area, First Lieutenant Rollings encouraged his men and cautioned them to maintain silence. Alerting detecting another hostile unit approaching his position from a different direction under cover of the enemy mortar fire, First Lieutenant Rollings immediately requested helicopter gunship support and, throughout the night, skillfully controlled firing runs on hostile targets, frequently calling for fire as close as five meters to friendly positions. With first light, fixed-wing aircraft arrived on station and, while he adjusted their bombing runs on suspected enemy positions, he commenced deploying his team to an alternate defensive position. As his Marines moved toward their objective, they engaged in a fierce fire fight with a group of North Vietnamese Army soldiers supported by a larger force occupying well-concealed emplacements. With complete disregard for his own safety, First Lieutenant Rollings valiantly stood in full view of the enemy and delivered a steady stream of suppressive fire, which killed two of the hostile soldiers and forced the others to abandon their assault and seek cover. Upon successfully repelled numerous vicious attacks until the arrival of a reaction company, several hours later. His heroic and determined actions inspired all who observed him and undoubtedly prevented serious casualties among his men. By his courage, dynamic leadership, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, First Lieutenant Rollings upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense has awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal to Major General Wayne E. Rollings, United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense. The distinctive accomplishments of Major General Rollings reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Marine Corps, and the Department of Defense.