The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain James W. Huffman (MCSN: 0-97004), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 April 1969, a squad from a squad from Company B came in contact with a hostile force occupying defensive positions near the village of Lam Phung (1) in Quang Nam Province and was pinned down by intense enemy fire, sustaining several casualties. Alerted to the seriousness of the tactical situation, Captain Huffman fearlessly led a reaction squad to the relief of the beleaguered Marines. After maneuvering his Marines across approximately 1,000 meters of open terrain, he arrived in the designated area and was informed that a mortally wounded Marine was at the bottom of an embankment of a nearby lake in proximity to the hostile emplacements. Completely disregarding his own safety, Captain Huffman allowed himself to be lowered down the steep bank and then aggressively advanced toward the enemy positions in an attempt to evacuate the casualty. Observing two North Vietnamese soldiers about to fire at him, he quickly reacted and killed the enemy with an accurate burst of fire from his rifle. His heroic and timely actions allowed the casualty to be recovered and inspired all who observed him. By his courage, bold fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Hoffman upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain James W. Huffman (MCSN: 0-97004), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 21 April 1969, Captain Huffman was informed that a large hostile force was preparing to cross the Vu Gia River at a point opposite an undetected Marine ambush in the area southwest of DaNang. Skillfully deploying his widely dispersed units into squad-sized ambushes to detect and thwart enemy intentions, he simultaneously planned artillery, 106-mm. recoilless rifle, and machine gun fire to concentrated on the hostile force and all avenues of escape. When the North Vietnamese force increased to approximately two hundred and launched seventeen boats, containing three to five soldiers each, pulled by two or three men, with an estimated twenty-five soldiers wading among the boats, Captain Huffman initiated the ambush. The resulting devastating firepower, delivered from Captain Huffman’s carefully coordinated assets, prevented any soldier from crossing the river and achieved annihilation of the assault force. Determined to exploit the hostile unit’s confusion and disorganization, he quickly assembled his forces and, early the following day, initiated a river crossing. Rapidly directing the suppression of enemy sniper fire, he fearlessly led his men in a search operation that resulted in the capture of numerous Viet Cong suspects and the seizure of two thousand pounds of foodstuffs. His decisive and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in accounting for seventy-one hostile soldiers killed. By his courage, dynamic leadership and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Huffman contributed significantly to the defeat of the enemy force and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.