The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Robert Earl Cleary (MCSN: 1223540), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Third Platoon Commander with Company G, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 June 1966, during Operation JAY, Gunnery Sergeant Cleary and his platoon came into heavy contact with a well-entrenched Viet Cong Battalion located in a tree line near the village of Ap My Phu. Upon making contact with the enemy, he launched his platoon into the assault and with complete disregard for his own safety, moved among his men shouting instructions and words of encouragement. At one point in the assault, he spotted four automatic weapons and one sixty millimeter mortar that were delivering a deadly hail of fire into his advancing platoon. Immediately he moved along the tree line and through the vicious hostile fire to direct one of his squads in destroying the Viet Cong emplacements. Although wounded, he refused to be evacuated in order to maintain the impetus of his platoon’s assault. By his daring actions and loyal devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Gunnery Sergeant Cleary upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.