The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel [then Major] Victor R. Deschuytner (MCSN: 0-57310), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Assistant Operations Officer, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 November 1965, a company of the Ninth Army of the Republic of Vietnam Ranger Battalion sustained heavy casualties while engaged with a numerically superior Viet Cong force. Upon insertion into the hazardous area by helicopter, Lieutenant Colonel Deschuytner was assigned to assist the beleaguered unit and to coordinate their efforts with a Marine force en route to their position. Displaying superior professional skill, he was instrumental in rejoining the besieged company with its parent battalion and was in the process of joining the entire force with the Marine unit when he was seriously wounded in the arm by enemy small arms fire. Disregarding his painful injury, he refused medical aid and resolutely remained with the assault units, coordinating their movements with supporting artillery fire and air strikes. Shortly after nightfall, while heavily engaged in an intense fire fight, the unit came under a concentrated mortar attack and automatic weapons and small arms fire. Fearlessly moving from one position to another rendering encouragement and directing the fire of his men, Lieutenant Colonel Deschuytner inadvertently detonated an enemy explosive device which resulted in the loss of his foot and multiple fragmentation wounds. Realizing the extreme danger to the evacuation helicopter and its crew attempting a night medical extraction under heavy enemy fire, he displayed exceptional fortitude and disregard for the excruciating pain of his serious wounds and directed that his evacuation wait until daylight. By his courage, outstanding professionalism and selfless devotion to duty throughout, Lieutenant Colonel Deschuytner was an inspiration to all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.