The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Danny D. James (MCSN: 1178515), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company E, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces near Hoa Loc Village, Republic of Vietnam. During the late evening hours of 22 August 1965, Staff Sergeant James’ platoon was ambushed by an estimated twenty-five man enemy force. The initial volley of enemy automatic weapons fire and hand grenades wounded eight Marines, including the platoon commander, and cut Staff Sergeant James and two other Marines off from the rest of the platoon. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Staff Sergeant James attempted to rejoin his unit which was pinned down by the intense hostile fire. Having expended is ammunition, Staff Sergeant James tried to outflank and destroy an enemy machine gun position with grenades, but was painfully wounded during this attempt. Realizing that immediate reinforcements were necessary, Staff Sergeant James crawled four hundred meters under sporadic enemy fire and made contact with the platoon’s previously detached squad. Guiding this element back to the battle area, Staff Sergeant James ignored his painful wound as he led an aggressive assault through the enemy positions to the platoon perimeter where he assumed command until the platoon was relieved. By his initiative, courageous actions and inspiring devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Staff Sergeant James upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.