The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Jerome C. Foster (MCSN: 2145219), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 March 1968, during Operation SCOTLAND, Company B was engaged in patrol actions near the Khe Sanh Combat Base, when the lead elements came under intense mortar and automatic weapons fire from a well entrenched, numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force, temporarily pinning down the Marines and causing several casualties. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Lance Corporal Foster completely disregarded his own safety as he unhesitatingly ran across the fire-swept terrain and boldly assaulted the nearest enemy position, forcing three North Vietnamese soldiers into a nearby trench, where his fire team killed them. Although wounded during the assault, he ignored his injuries as he destroyed the fortified emplacement with hand grenades and then fearlessly attacked a second hostile position, killing three enemy soldiers and destroying the bunker. As a result of his inspiring actions, his comrades quickly destroyed a third emplacement, enabling his unit to continue the attack. When the company was ordered to withdraw, he disregarded his painful injuries as he organized his men to provide covering fire for the evacuation of the wounded. Only after he was assured that all the injured and mortally wounded Marines had been moved from the fire-swept area, did he report to the aid station for medical treatment. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal Foster was instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.