The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Gary Gordon Evans (MCSN: 2269577), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Assistant Machine Gunner with Company L, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 26 May 1967. During Operation UNION II, Company L was heli-lifted to an assigned area with the mission of securing a landing zone for the battalion. Immediately following insertion, Private First Class Evans’ platoon came under intense fire from an estimated force of 300 North Vietnamese Army troops. Delivering a heavy volume of automatic weapons, small arms and mortar fire, the enemy assaulted the northern edge of the landing zone, immediately wounding several Marines and momentarily pinning down the remainder. From his position on a rice paddy dike, Private First Class Evans and his companion fired continuously to suppress the enemy fire directed to his platoon’s front. When the gunner was critically wounded, Private First Class Evans unhesitatingly seized the machine gun and, firing from his hip, aggressively advanced in a single-handed assault on the enemy’s position. With complete disregard for his own safety, he delivered accurate suppressive fire on the enemy and diverted their fire toward him, enabling his platoon to move to a more advantageous position. During his gallant charge, Private First Class Evans was wounded in the shoulder but disregarded the intense pain to continue his daring assault. The calm and fearless manner in which he exposed himself to intense enemy fire undoubtedly saved numerous Marine lives and enabled his companions to assume strategic positions in order to repulse the North Vietnamese attack. By his heroic actions, determined fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty, Private First Class Evans upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.