The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Donald Duane Groves (MCSN: 2409669), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Grenadier with Company C, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 14 January 1969, Lance Corporal Groves was participating in a combat patrol near Khe Sanh in Quang Tri Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army unit occupying well-concealed mountain caves, seriously wounding the point man. Observing that the wounded man had fallen in a position dangerously exposed to the intense hostile fire, Lance Corporal Groves unhesitatingly ran across the hazardous terrain and, completely disregarding his own safety, attempted to reach his injured comrade. Having been driven back four times by the intense volume of hostile fire, he skillfully coordinated with helicopter gunships and, despite a painful wound received during a previous attempt, successfully reached the casualty and returned his comrade to his squad’s perimeter. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Groves inspired all who served with him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.