The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Sergeant Charles E. Otto (MCSN: 650299), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a First Sergeant of Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 13 March 1968, while participating in a two-company assault against fortified North Vietnamese positions in Quang Tri Province, First Sergeant Otto’s company came under intense mortar artillery and small arms fire as it crossed a rice paddy. The lead platoon immediately maneuvered to positions in order to establish a base of fire and sustained several casualties from heavy mortar fire. Completely disregarding his own safety, First Sergeant Otto ran 200 meters across open terrain to assist the casualties and was wounded when the enemy again brought a heavy volume of fire to bear on the platoon. Observing that the platoon commander, platoon sergeant and two corpsmen had also been wounded, he unhesitatingly assumed command of the unit, established a defensive perimeter, relayed a situation report to the company commander and began supervising the treatment and evacuation of the casualties. Refusing evacuation for himself, he resolutely rejoined the remainder of his company as it assaulted across a river where it was halted by increasingly intense enemy fire and sustained additional casualties. Leaving his relatively secure position behind the river bank, First Sergeant Otto pulled several wounded men to safety. When his company was directed to withdraw as darkness approached, he boldly swam across the river to establish security for his unit which subsequently sustained several more casualties as he continued to aid the injured men and assisted in placing them aboard amphibian tractors for evacuation. Throughout the battle, his tireless efforts and dauntless courage inspired all who observed him and undoubtedly saved numerous Marine lives. By his exemplary leadership, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, First Sergeant Otto upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.