The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal John R. Eron (MCSN: 2277659), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 16 March 1968, Lance Corporal Eron’s unit was conducting a search and destroy operation near Con Thien when the Marines suddenly came under intense hostile fire from a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. Reacting instantly, Lance Corporal Eron directed his men’s fire into the hostile emplacements and silenced the enemy fire. As he maneuvered his squad forward toward a tree line, the unit again came under intense fire and several men were wounded. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he immediately delivered a heavy volume of fire at the enemy emplacements and directed his men to withdraw to covered positions. Under covering fire from his men, he unhesitatingly moved about the fire-swept terrain and carried the casualties to relatively safe positions. As he moved the wound men from the hazardous area, he threw hand grenades into the hostile emplacements and personally accounted for several enemy soldiers confirmed killed. Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting near him, Lance Corporal Eron skillfully administered first aid to the injured men while simultaneously directing his men’s fire at the enemy force. By his courage, superb leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lance Corporal Eron undoubtedly saved the lives of several Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.