The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Harry B. Drollinger (MCSN: 0-101014), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Executive Officer of Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 1 February 1968, when the battalion’s assembly area in Thua Thien Province became isolated from the Phu Loc District Headquarters during a heavy enemy attack, Second Lieutenant Drollinger organized a reaction force to reopen the road. Departing the assembly area with a platoon reinforced by a vehicle-mounted 106-mm. recoilless rifle, the reaction force advanced 1,000 meters beyond the defensive perimeter where it joined another unit which was halted by heavy enemy fire. Aggressively deploying his men, he directed effective suppressive fire against the hostile positions which enabled the beleaguered Marines to withdraw and regroup. During the fire fight when both the gunner and assistant gunner for the recoilless rifle were wounded, Second Lieutenant Drollinger and a rifleman unhesitatingly manned the weapon to maintain the volume of suppressive fire on the hostile positions. While exposed to the hostile fire, Second Lieutenant Drollinger was seriously wounded in the arm. Disregarding his painful injury, he refused medical evacuation and steadfastly continued to deliver accurate recoilless rifle fire while shouting words of encouragement to his men. By his superior leadership, outstanding professionalism and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Drollinger was an inspiration to all who served with him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.