The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant John T. Frisina (MCSN: 0-94708), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the Communist insurgent forces in the Republic of Vietnam from 31 May to 1 June 1968. First Lieutenant Frisina served as Assistant Senior Marine Advisor, Sixth Battalion, Task Force “A”, Vietnamese Marine Corps, engaged in Operation TOAN THANG in the Gia Dinh area, a suburb of the city of Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. Following a pre-dawn attack on the morning of 31 May 1968, the enemy occupied a built-up area near the Binh Loi Bridge. First Lieutenant Frisina was operating with the First Company of the Sixth Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Corps, which was to serve as the spearhead in an assault to drive the enemy out of their positions. Immediately after crossing the line of departure, the company encountered a determined resistance in a house-to-house battle. First Lieutenant Frisina and his Vietnamese Marine counterpart immediately moved to the forward elements of the company in order to maintain control of the assault. The command group repeatedly came under heavy small arms and rocket fire. Lieutenant Frisina, positioned with the command group, repeatedly exposed himself to the onslaught of enemy fire in order to observe and adjust friendly gunship strikes and to advise his counterpart on the employment of tanks against the strongpoints. In this action Lieutenant Frisina was knocked unconscious by an enemy rocket explosion near his position. Upon regaining consciousness, Lieutenant Frisina refused further medical aid and resumed his advisory efforts. During the hours of darkness, under artificial illumination and immediate enemy fire, Lieutenant Frisina continued to direct the friendly gunship strikes. In the early morning hours of 1 June 1968, he occupied an observation post on top of a building within 100 meters of the enemy positions. Lieutenant Frisina again remained at this exposed position, with complete disregard for the enemy fire, in order to adjust the fire of gunships. This operation resulted in a total of 220 confirmed Viet Cong dead, 15 captured and the confiscation of enemy rifles, rocket launchers and valuable documents. Lieutenant Frisina’s skill in identifying targets and in directing the gunship and tank strikes against a determined and well armed enemy force, his calmness under fire, presence of mind under sustained conditions of extreme stress and his superior personal courage contributed immeasurably to this important victory. His exemplary performance of duty in the face of grave danger was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.