The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Jose Morales Padilla (MCSN: 1284395), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Company Gunnery Sergeant of Company M, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 30 April 1968, during Operation Kentucky, Company M was conducting a search and destroy operation near Cam Lo when the unit suddenly came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force. Reacting instantly, Gunnery Sergeant Padilla boldly maneuvered forward to direct the fire of his men and supervised the evacuation of the casualties. Alertly observing a hostile emplacement, he fearlessly ran across the fire-swept terrain and captured a North Vietnamese officer. Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting near him, he unhesitatingly moved about the hazardous area while skillfully deploying his men and directing their fire. Subsequently when the enemy fire subsided, he assisted the casualties aboard armored vehicles for medical evacuation. While directing the evacuation of the remaining Marines from their forward positions, his unit came under hostile sniper fire. Disregarding his own safety, Gunnery Sergeant Padilla fearlessly maneuvered forward and killed three North Vietnamese soldiers with his weapon, enabling the medical evacuation of wounded to be completed. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, superb leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Gunnery Sergeant Padilla upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.