The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Michael Kenneth Hart (MCSN: 2512333), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Reconnaissance Man with Company D, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 16 May 1969, while occupying ambush positions in Quang Tri Province, a five-man reconnaissance team from Company D encountered a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force armed with automatic weapons and rocket–propelled grenades. When two hostile soldiers approached to within three meters of his position, Private First Class Hart, initiating contact, killed both of them. Immediately, the remaining enemy soldiers began returning fire at the Marines and during the fierce fire fight, Private First Class Hart and two other men were wounded. Despite his own painful wounds, he unhesitatingly crawled across the fire-swept terrain to the side of the two more seriously wounded Marines and pulled them to positions of relative safety and then, maneuvering throughout the area, he encouraged his companions and skillfully delivered M-79 grenade fire upon the enemy until relief arrived. Alertly observing that another member of the reaction force was wounded and lying dangerously exposed to the enemy fire, Private First Class Hart fearlessly moved forward and, delivering accurate suppressive fire, killed two more North Vietnamese Army soldiers while a Corpsman treated the casualty. His bold initiative and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the defeat of the hostile force. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Private First Class Hart was instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.