The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Nicholas Marinos (MCSN: 1490955), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 6 August 1968, during Operation MAMELUKE THRUST, the First Platoon of Company F crossed an open rice paddy to begin an attack against a suspected fortified village in Quang Nam Province. Suddenly the Marines came under a heavy volume of accurate enemy automatic and semiautomatic weapons fire from the village which was 100 meters to the front. Reacting immediately, Staff Sergeant Marinos began skillfully maneuvering his men toward the enemy position, and when they were approximately thirty meters from the objective, he courageously went to the assistance of an injured Marine who lay in a dangerously exposed position. Disregarding the hostile rounds impacting near him, he was painfully wounded while carrying the casualty to a place of relative safety. As a Corpsman applied a battle dressing and called for a priority medical evacuation for him, Staff Sergeant Marinos alertly observed that the progress of the platoon had been slowed by intense enemy action. Seizing his rifle and ignoring the pain of his serious injury, he boldly rushed to the point of heavies contact and, shouting words of encouragement to his men, immediately led them in another determined assault against the enemy. As the hostile force broke contact and retreated, he led the platoon in an aggressive pursuit until temporarily halted by a barrage of grenades, rockets and 75-mm. recoilless rifle fire. Deploying his men within ten meters of the enemy, he directed well aimed fire against the hostile bunkers as he also assisted in treating and evacuating the wounded. Steadfastly refusing medical evacuation, he skillfully withdrew his platoon and, directing devastating tank fire into the enemy emplacements, enabled the company’s reserve platoon to decisively defeat the North Vietnamese Army force. Only after all casualties had been extracted would he consent for his own evacuation. His aggressive fighting spirit and sincere concern for the welfare of his men inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his unit accounting for twenty-three enemy soldiers confirmed killed, on 75-mm. recoilless rifle captured and a large assortment of equipment seized. By his outstanding courage, heroic leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Staff Sergeant Marinos upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.