The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Hospital Corpsman Third Class Travis Ashworth Simmons, Jr. (NSN: 7715206), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 16 March 1957, while serving with Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, during operations against insurgent Viet Cong forces in the Republic of Vietnam. As Senior Company Corpsman, Petty Officer Simmons was with the command group on a search and destroy mission in Quang Ngai Province when the rear elements of the company were taken under fire by an estimated Viet Cong battalion, and were pinned down in an open rice paddy. Racing toward the paddy to see if help was needed, Petty Officer Simmons learned that there were at least four Marines who required medical assistance. He then broke from his covered position and ran into the open where he was almost immediately wounded in the foot. The air was alive with enemy fire, but he refused assistance and expressed concern only for the other men. Despite the continuing heavy enemy fire, he courageously crawled to a seriously wounded Marine and placed his own body between that of the wounded man and the enemy fire. Moments later, Petty Officer Simmons was mortally wounded by a burst of machine gun fire. His exceptional initiative, uncommon daring, and compassion for his wounded comrades were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.