Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Batallion:

    3d Tank Battalion

    Division:

    3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF

    Action Date:

    August 26, 1966

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Clarence W. Jones (MCSN: 1460601), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with the Third Tank Battalion, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 26 August 1966. When units of the North Vietnamese Army attacked the defensive position of Staff Sergeant Jones’ platoon, the tank retriever in the area was set afire with small arms fire, anti-tank rockets and grenades, threatening to spread to a 1,200 gallon refueling tanker filled with gasoline and diesel fuel. Seeing that the tanker was in danger of exploding, turning the area into a holocaust of flaming fuel, he rushed through intense small arms fire and moved it to a relatively safe area. Armed only with grenades, Staff Sergeant Jones searched and cleared heavy brush suspected of harboring the enemy before taking charge of his tank in order to deliver fire into the enemy position thirty meters away. Learning of four wounded Marines lying in a bunker, and in danger of annihilation, he responded immediately. Fearing that he would run over wounded Marines in the darkness if he used his tank, Staff Sergeant Jones left the covered safety of his tank, armed with an M-14 rifle, and deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire in order to guide his tank to rescue the beleaguered Marines. While crossing enemy held territory, he personally killed two enemy soldiers, one of whom was armed with an anti-tank weapon. Reaching the bunker, he covered the withdrawal of the four Marines to the safety of the perimeter. By his courage, exemplary leadership and inspiring devotion to duty, Staff Sergeant Jones upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.