The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal William Atkins (MCSN: 2309299), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company D, First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 June 1968, Company D was conducting a search and destroy operation south of DaNang when the lead platoon came under a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force occupying fortified positions. When his squad leader was mortally wounded, Lance Corporal Atkins unhesitatingly assumed control of the Marines and skillfully directed their fire against the enemy soldiers. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he fearlessly crawled forward to an exposed position and began throwing hand grenades and firing light antitank assault weapons at the entrenched North Vietnamese. Although painfully wounded, Lance Corporal Atkins resolutely returned to his squad’s position and, obtaining additional hand grenades, crawled across the fire-swept terrain toward an enemy automatic weapon site. Ignoring the hostile rounds impacting near him, he fearlessly exposed himself to the intense fire while hurling grenades into the North Vietnamese machine gun emplacement, silencing the enemy fire. Although painfully wounded a second time, he continued to shout words of encouragement to his men and directed their assault until the hostile positions were overrun. By his courage, resolute determination and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal Atkins inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.