The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant David Darrell Patten (MCSN: 1977452), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company B, First Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 2 April 1966, during Operation ORANGE, Sergeant Patten was leading his squad through hostile territory near the village of Lap Thuan when, just before midnight, one of the fire teams was pinned down by concentrated Viet Cong automatic weapons fire. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Patten moved to the team’s position and, with enemy rounds making a shower of dirt around him, stood beside his prone comrades to gain better observation and fire his M-79 grenade launcher into the enemy trench lines. His barrage of fire was so effective that the Viet Cong action subsided, enabling the Marines to gain fire superiority, overrun and eliminate the enemy position. Continuing on the original mission, the Marines again made contact with the Viet Cong. Sergeant Patten exhibited uncommon courage and disregard for his own safety when the point rifleman was wounded and became a target of concentrated fire. Undaunted by the murderous fire, Sergeant Patten unhesitatingly raced across about twenty meters of open ground to help his immobilized comrade. All the while shouting orders to the remainder of his unit, he quickly administered first aid and pulled the wounded Marine to safety. His valiant act undoubtedly saved the man from sustaining further wounds. By his extraordinary heroism in the face of extreme danger, daring initiative and unfaltering dedication to duty, Sergeant Patten upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.