The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Donald Raymond Gibbons (MCSN: 1377206), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company B, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 9 December 1967, Gunnery Sergeant Gibbons was standing security watch on top of a tank which was reinforcing a Combined Action Platoon’s defensive perimeter in the Dai Loc District of Quang Nam Province. Suddenly, an enemy grenade landed between two tank crew members who were asleep on the vehicle. Reacting instantly, Gunnery Sergeant Gibbons shouted a warning and quickly moved to the side of his sleeping comrades. With complete disregard for his own safety, he picked up the grenade, hurled it away from the vehicle and unhesitatingly covered his companions with his own body to shield them from the explosion. Although wounded in the leg by fragments from the exploding grenade, he ignored his painful injury and skillfully utilized the tank’s .30 caliber machine gun to deliver a heavy volume of fire into the area from which the grenade had been thrown. His instant response and presence of mind in the face of extreme personal danger were an inspiration to all who observed him and undoubtedly saved the lives of two fellow Marines. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Gunnery Sergeant Gibbons upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.