The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Robert F. Eaton (MCSN: 2333634), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Patrol Leader with Company C, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 June 1968 while leading a six-man reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Lac Son, South of the Demilitarized Zone, Lance Corporal Eaton discovered an enemy bunker complex. Upon searching the area, the patrol discovered one enemy soldier who apparently had been killed in an air strike, along with several documents, mortar fuses and boosters and .50 caliber armor piercing ammunition. Realizing that to destroy the materials would alert hostile forces in the vicinity to their presence, Lance Corporal Eaton took samples of the materials and moved his patrol to a concealed position from which to observe the area. Subsequently, eight enemy soldiers passed within ten meters of the patrol and the point man detected the Marines. Reacting instantly, Lance Corporal Eaton killed the hostile soldier as approximately twenty more of the enemy joined the first group and began to rush the patrol in three and four man teams. Throwing grenades, he then moved his patrol, established a defensive position and radioed for supporting arms. Cautioning his men to conserve their limited ammunition supply, he directed accurate fir on the hostile forces, killing four of the enemy. When an aerial observer arrived on station, Lance Corporal Eaton pinpointed his position and coordinated artillery fire, air strikes and armed helicopter support against the hostile emplacements. Then, with the gunships delivering fire as close as seventy-five meters to his position, he moved his patrol to a more secure area where it was extracted under the cover of artillery fire. His decisive leadership throughout the five-hour engagement was instrumental in his patrol’s success in obtaining valuable intelligence information and enabled the Marines to depart the area without a single casualty. By his courage, outstanding professional competence and steadfast devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Eaton upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.