The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Douglas Wayne Lee (MCSN: 2112997), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against North Vietnamese Army forces on 26 March 1967, while serving with the First Platoon, Company C, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in Vietnam. As a fire team leader in the Second Squad, Corporal Lee was participating in a search and destroy mission during Operation BEACON HILL I, in the Con Thien region, just south of the Demilitarized Zone, when the Second Platoon came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire from a series of fortified trenches and bunkers, sustaining numerous casualties. Quickly assessing the situation, the First Platoon Commander organized an assault force to assist the Second Platoon in routing the enemy from this trench line. Corporal Lee immediately began carrying ammunition and grenades to the beleaguered Marines, distributing ammunition to those who needed it. He then proceeded to collect grenades from the dead and wounded and with deadly accuracy began an assault on the fortified position forcing an enemy machine gun to displace. As the assault force succeeded in pushing the enemy from their positions, a mortar round exploded near Corporal Lee, mortally wounding him. By his initiative, valor and loyal devotion to duty Corporal Lee upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.