The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Thomas J. Eichler (MCSN: 1838959), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving as Weapons Platoon Sergeant with Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division. During the early morning hours of 5 February 1968, two companies of North Vietnamese regulars attacked Company E’s defensive position on Hill 861A near Khe Sanh with grenades, mortars, automatic weapons, and small arms fire. Realizing one of his gun emplacements had gone silent, Corporal Eichler moved through the heavy enemy fire first to bring up and emplace another machine gun team, and then assisted in moving the casualties out of harm’s way. With complete disregard for his own safety, he made several sprints to the forward edges of the perimeter to evacuate critically wounded Marines and reposition his teams into more effective firing positions. When the enemy breached Company E’s perimeter, Corporal Eichler played a vital role in the successful counterattack. He brought ammunition to Marines in the front line positions, engaged the enemy in close quarters combat, and repeatedly exposed himself above the trench line to direct the actions of his fellow Marines and personally hurl grenades on the enemy with devastating effect. By his undaunted courage, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of intense enemy fire were an inspiration to all who observed him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.