The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Donald Festa (MCSN: 0-76922), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 3 March 1967. Operating near the Demilitarized Zone, Captain Festa maneuvered his company into position to assault a large North Vietnamese force moving rapidly toward an adjacent Marine unit. After calling in artillery fire on the advancing enemy column, he aggressively led his men in the assault of the lead element comprised of seventy-five enemy troops. In the ensuing fire fight, Captain Festa exhibited exceptional leadership and military strategy as he evaluated the situation and successfully routed the enemy, killing twenty North Vietnamese soldiers and confiscating numerous weapons. Subsequently, another North Vietnamese unit of approximately eighty-five men attacked the company. Repeatedly exposing himself to the enemy small arms and mortar fire to ascertain the position of the enemy, Captain Festa courageously moved among his men, directing their fire and giving encouragement as they aggressively assaulted the enemy force. A third element of approximately sixty North Vietnamese regulars were encountered coming to the aid of the original enemy unit. So relentless and furious was the Marines’ third attack that the enemy was rapidly overrun and routed. Largely due to Captain Festa’s decisive actions and resolute fighting spirit, his company accounted for more than eighty-five North Vietnamese soldiers killed and five captured while sustaining only four wounded. In addition, five machine guns, seven rocket launchers and fifty-one automatic weapons were confiscated in the three separate attacks. By his inspiring leadership, fearless determination in the face of enemy fire and selfless devotion to duty, Captain Festa upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.