The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Gary H. Kreh (MCSN: 2175644), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with the First Platoon, Company A, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, in connection with combat operations against the enemy at Con Thien, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 8 May 1967, Corporal Kreh’s squad was assigned the mission to assist a platoon of Marines, who had taken heavy casualties and were pinned down in the open by a heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire. He maneuvered his squad to a position twenty meters behind two burning tractors where they immediately came under a heavy volume of accurate enemy automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. With full knowledge of the hazards involved, Corporal Kreh exposed himself to the enemy fire to give aid to a wounded Marine lying out in the open. Having accomplished this mission, he promptly moved to the point of his squad in order to maintain the momentum of the assault and to supervise personally the maneuver of his squad. In the face of heavy enemy fire, Corporal Kreh aggressively led his squad across an open area, repeatedly exposing himself to the enemy automatic weapons fire in order to assault the enemy position. As the assault progressed, the enemy fire increased in volume and accuracy, but he continued to set an example of calmness and courage, shouting words of encouragement to his squad to inspire them to advance toward the enemy in the face of overwhelming odds. Corporal Kreh’s dynamic leadership and bold, courageous fighting spirit inspired his men until he fell mortally wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire. As a direct result of his stirring example and outstanding professional skill, the enemy positions were destroyed and the area was cleared to land helicopters so the seriously wounded could be evacuated. Corporal Kreh’s actions reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.