The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal George Joseph David (MCSN: 2186692), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company D, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 13 September 1967, Corporal David accompanied a twenty-man reconnaissance patrol inserted deep in enemy controlled territory on Hill 445 in the vicinity of Chu Lai where the unit immediately established a night defensive perimeter. During the early morning hours of the following day, the patrol suddenly came under heavy automatic weapons fire and grenade attack from an estimated forty to sixty-man Viet Cong force, mortally wounding the patrol leader and seriously wounding eight other Marines, including the senior squad leader who was then unable to take command of the patrol. Immediately assessing the situation, Corporal David, despite his own painful injuries sustained during the initial attack, displayed exceptional leadership, tactical skill and composure under fire as he quickly reorganized his own squad, placing the senior team leader in charge, and then assumed command of the patrol. With complete disregard for his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he moved to each position within the perimeter to supervise the distribution of ammunition, encourage his men and effectively direct their fire. When flare ships arrived on station and requested that the friendly position be marked, Corporal David, undaunted by the continuing heavy hostile fire, courageously stood in the center of the perimeter exposed to the enemy as he held a strobe light to mark the zone. Throughout the engagement, he unhesitatingly moved among his men to control the developing action and to display the strobe light to identify the Marines’ position for gunships attacking the Viet Cong. When evacuation helicopters arrived and the hostile fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable them to land, Corporal David skillfully deployed his men and supplied covering fire as he expeditiously organized the movement of the casualties to the first aircraft. Throughout the embarkation, he remained in the rear to ensure that all equipment had been moved from the battle area and to provide covering fire until the last of his men had boarded the helicopter. He then climbed aboard as the aircraft departed the hazardous area. Only after the helicopters were airborne did he allow his own wounds to be treated. Due largely to his prompt and fearless actions, he enabled his patrol to repulse the numerically superior Viet Cong force, killing fifteen of the enemy, and undoubtedly was instrumental in saving his fellow Marines from further injury or possible death. By his outstanding leadership, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal David inspired all with whom he served and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.