The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Robert J. Mastrion (MCSN: 0-88497), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 March 1968, Company G was assigned the mission of attacking the village of Nhi Ha in Quang Tri Province. When adjacent units became pinned down by intense enemy fire, Captain Mastrion was forced to deploy his company in an area exposed to a heavy volume of artillery and automatic weapons fire. Boldly exposing himself to the hostile fire, he quickly organized a defensive perimeter, despite the accurate enemy fire which knocked the radio handset from his hand on two occasions. Completely disregarding his own safety, he fearlessly continued to move across the fire-swept terrain, shouting words of encouragement to his men and ensuring that they were occupying positions of relative safety. Although wounded twice, he steadfastly refused medical treatment and continued his determined efforts for approximately twelve hours until his unit was ordered to withdraw from the hazardous area. His superb leadership and aggressive fighting spirit inspired all who served with him and were instrumental in the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, bold initiative and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Captain Mastrion upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.