The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Frederick R. Cunningham (MCSN: 0-100158), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company M, Third Battalion, First Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 2 February 1968, during Operation SALINE, First Lieutenant Cunningham’s platoon was embarked aboard three tanks assigned to assist a Marine company under attack by a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force near the village of Lam Xuan in Quang Tri Province. Throughout the night, he directed tank fire against the enemy and, with the arrival of the remainder of his company at dawn, participated in a counterattack across 800 meters of open rice paddy. Riding atop the command tank, he relayed instructions to the tank platoon commander, skillfully maneuvering the tanks across the inundated paddies toward the enemy’s entrenched positions in the village. Although twice knocked from the tank by the concussion from exploding rounds, he disregarded his own safety and resolutely returned to his hazardous position to direct accurate tank cannon and machine gun fire against the hostile emplacements. As his unit advanced, he directed artillery and mortar fire missions against the enemy and was personally responsible for the capture of six North Vietnamese soldiers, several automatic weapons and a 60-mm. mortar. By his heroic actions, bold leadership and loyal devotion to duty at great personal risk, First Lieutenant Cunningham was instrumental in the defeat of the enemy and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.