The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Charles L. Dunbar (MCSN: 1565358), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company H, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 13 January 1969, during Operation TAYLOR COMMON, Staff Sergeant Dunbar’s platoon was moving to relieve another platoon in the Dun Duc District of Quang Nam Province when the Marines came under intense automatic weapons fire from a well-entrenched hostile force. Reacting instantly, Staff Sergeant Dunbar quickly maneuvered one squad to a more advantageous position, directed its suppressive fire upon the enemy, then led the remainder of his men toward the hostile positions. Skillfully maneuvering his unit forward and directing their fire, he and his men were advancing across the fire-swept terrain toward the enemy bunker complex when three Marines were wounded by hostile grenade fragments. With complete disregard for his own safety, he rushed to the aid of the fallen men and moved them to cover, then unhesitatingly maneuvered to within ten feet of an enemy emplacement and began throwing grenades inside. When the hostile soldiers kept throwing his grenades back out, Staff Sergeant Dunbar, armed only with a pistol, fearlessly assaulted the bunker and killed the two North Vietnamese soldiers inside. As a result of Staff Sergeant Dunbar’s silencing the key enemy position, his men were soon able to rout the hostile forces from the area. Having secured a landing zone, he comforted and reassured the casualties until they could be medically evacuated. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Staff Sergeant Dunbar upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.