The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Alan H. Hartney (MCSN: 0-83357), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company L, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division from 27 February to 2 March 1967, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During Operations Prairie II, Captain Hartney was leading his company and an attached tank platoon on a search and clear operation northwest of Cam Lo in Quang Tri Province when they came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a company size unit of North Vietnamese Army forces. Almost immediately, the point platoon was temporarily pinned down by the vicious hostile fire and the platoon commander and several other key personnel were killed. Realizing the perilous positions of the Marines, Captain Hartney completely disregarded his own safety and raced across an open area under intense enemy fire to assist the beleaguered unit. Quickly rallying his men, he organized a hasty defense and directed the evacuation of the wounded to a secure area. Ignoring his own painful wound, he selflessly carried several of the wounded to safety while under continuous enemy fire and then established a night defensive position. At dawn, an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese launched a fierce attack on his unit utilizing 82-mm. mortars, hand grenades, automatic weapons and small arms. Unhesitatingly exposing himself to intense enemy fire, Captain Hartney personally directed countermortar fire on the well concealed and entrenched North Vietnamese. His decisive and heroic actions forced the numerically superior enemy force to break contact and withdraw. Later the same day, he was again wounded when his unit came under another heavy mortar attack. Refusing medical treatment, Captain Hartney moved to each defensive position, encouraging his men and directing accurate and effective tank and artillery fire on the North Vietnamese which forced them to withdraw. During the afternoon of 28 February, his company was reinforced by a Marine battalion and on 2 March, after all casualties had been evacuated, he successfully led his company back to the Battalion Command Post. Throughout, his inspiring leadership and uncommon courage were instrumental in repulsing the repeated enemy attacks. By his resolute determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, professional skill and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Hartney upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.