The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Darrell H. Chapman (MCSN: 2459791), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company A, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 22 February 1969, Company A was conducting a combat patrol in the Ashau Valley area of Quang Tri Province, during Operation DEWEY CANYON, when the point element, of which Lance Corporal Chapman was a member, came under a heavy volume of fire from a battalion-sized enemy unit occupying a well-fortified bunker complex. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, hype fearlessly crawled toward the enemy positions, frequently exposing himself to hostile fire to throw hand grenades and direct his fire team in the assault. Alertly observing that two comrades manning a nearby machine gun position had been seriously wounded by the intense hostile fire, he rushed across the fire-swept terrain and pulled his injured companions to a relatively safe position where they could be treated by a corpsman. Returning to the machine gun position, he picked up the weapon and ammunition and, maneuvering to the point of heaviest contact, directed a heavy volume of accurate suppressive fire on an enemy machine gun emplacement. His heroic and timely actions were instrumental in allowing his unit to overrun the objective while sustaining only minimal casualties. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal Chapman inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.