The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Vincente Aguilar, Jr. (MCSN: 2334659), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Team Leader with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 1 May 1968, Company G was attacking a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force occupying the village of Dai Do in Quang Tri Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of hostile artillery, mortar and automatic weapons fire and sustained numerous casualties. Reacting quickly, Private First Class Aguilar moved through the hazardous area to a dangerously exposed position and directed accurate suppressive machine gun fire against the enemy, enabling his platoon to regroup and evacuate its casualties. Observing four hostile soldiers crawling down a path toward his platoon, he immediately took them under fire, killing all of them. Having nearly exhausted his ammunition supply, Private First Class Aguilar fearlessly moved about the hazardous area and rapidly collected additional ammunition for his weapon. Noticing a North Vietnamese soldier attempting to envelop his gun position, he killed the man and seized his weapon. As he returned to his position, he alertly observed two injured Marines lying 100 meters to his front. With complete disregard for his own safety, he crossed the fire-swept area to aid his wounded comrades. Although they had succumbed to their wounds, he resolutely carried one casualty to his perimeter and started moving toward the other one when his unit resumed its attack. Moving forward, the platoon received heavy automatic weapons fire from an enemy bunker. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Private First Class Aguilar unhesitatingly maneuvered toward the hostile emplacement and destroyed it with a hand grenade, killing three enemy soldiers. Continuing his determined efforts, he again exposed himself to the intense enemy fire and, while obtaining additional machine gun ammunition, was seriously wounded. By his courage, gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Private First Class Aguilar upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.