The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Boyce Edward Easter (MCSN: 2354407), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Automatic Rifleman with Company H, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 March 1968, during a battalion attack against elements of three North Vietnamese Army battalions in the fortified village of Vinh Quan Thuong in Quang Tri Province, Private First Class Easter was moving with his platoon as the right flank of the company’s leading elements when the Marines began receiving increasingly heavy enemy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar and rocket fire. Observing a wounded machine gunner unable to operate his weapon, he unhesitatingly moved through the intense hostile fire to the injured man, picked up the machine gun and began delivering a heavy volume of fire against an enemy emplacement until another machine gunner arrived. Then, Private First Class Easter administered first aid to the wounded Marine and carried him to a covered position. Later that afternoon, he assaulted a fortified bunker along with two other Marines. As his companions provided covering fire, he moved through the hostile fire and threw a hand grenade into the bunker, destroying the emplacement and killing two North Vietnamese soldiers. Subsequently while searching a complex of spider holes leading into a waist deep pool of water, he assisted in the capture of one enemy soldier and, when confronted by another North Vietnamese soldier who jumped from a concealed position, killed the enemy with accurate rifle fire. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Private First Class Easter upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.