The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Galyardt (MCSN: 1409591), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Communications Chief of the First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 31 January 1968, while advancing to relieve a beleaguered friendly unit near the Citadel in Hue City, Gunnery Sergeant Galyardt was a member of the battalion command group when the Marines came under a heavy volume of hostile automatic weapons and rocket fire that wounded numerous men. Rapidly assessing the situation, he skillfully deployed the remaining Marines into advantageous positions and boldly stepped into a fire-swept street to pinpoint the North Vietnamese emplacements. Shouting words of encouragement to his men and directing their fire, he succeeded in suppressing the hostile fire. Advancing into the Citadel, the unit again came under intense enemy fire which caused numerous casualties among members of the command group. Skillfully establishing a landing zone and maneuvering his Marines into security positions, Gunnery Sergeant Galyardt ably directed helicopters into the site and supervised the rapid embarkation of the casualties. Subsequently deploying his men into night defensive positions, he fearlessly moved about the hazardous terrain assisting medical personnel in the treatment of the less seriously wounded. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Gunnery Sergeant Galyardt inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.