The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Daniel L. Hernandez (MCSN: 2135637), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Machine Gunner with Company M, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, on 5 March 1966. During operation UTAH in Quang Ngai Province, M Company became heavily engaged with a North Vietnamese Army battalion located in an extensive bunker complex. Following the assault on a bunker, a badly wounded Marine was lying near an enemy position. Private First Class Hernandez, giving no thought to his own safety, fearlessly ran across an area of heavy enemy fire, picked up the wounded Marine and carried him to safety. Although wounded in his lower back during this rescue, Private First Class Hernandez refused evacuation, only permitting a Corpsman to bandage his wound. He then immediately resumed firing in support of the bunker assaults until he heard loud shouting from a group of wounded Marines, where he saw an enemy soldier on the opposite side of the group rapidly advancing and firing upon his injured comrades. Realizing the severely wounded Marines could not protect themselves, and that the remainder had no weapons while awaiting evacuation, Private First Class Hernandez knew they were in mortal danger. Ignoring the pain of his wound and again giving no thought to his own personal safety, he leapt from his covered position, courageously ran through the enemy fire to the wounded Marines’ location, and placed himself between them and the attacking enemy soldier, thereby drawing the enemy soldier’s fire away from the wounded men and onto himself. In a furious exchange of gunfire, Private First Class Hernandez killed the enemy soldier and eliminated the threat to the wounded Marines. His immediate and fearless actions, while himself painfully wounded, undoubtedly saved many lives. Private First Class Hernandez’s courageous actions, complete disregard for his own personal safety, and total dedication to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.