The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Frank Lenna (MCSN: 2076091), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company E, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 August 1967, while patrolling Liberty Road in the Duc Duc District of Quang Nam Province, the lead elements of Sergeant Lenna’s platoon came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed Viet Cong force. In the initial burst of fire, the platoon was temporarily halted and the point squad sustained numerous casualties. Quickly evaluating the situation, he led his men to positions from which they could deliver effective suppressive fire on the enemy and, fearlessly exposing himself to the enemy fire, directed a heavy volume of fire which halted the Viet Cong attack. On two separate occasions, the numerically superior enemy force assaulted the point squad’s position, however, in large measure due to Sergeant Lenna’s outstanding leadership and aggressiveness, the enemy attacks were repulsed. When the Viet Cong launched a final attack utilizing automatic weapons and rifle grenades, he was forced to withdraw his unit from its untenable position. Although painfully wounded, Sergeant Lenna steadfastly maintained his position and supervised the orderly withdrawal of his unit to the platoon perimeter. Disregarding his own safety, he courageously maneuvered through the hostile fire to assist in moving six wounded men to areas of relative safety and, only after being assured that all the casualties had received medical aid, did he accept treatment for his own wound. His heroic and timely actions throughout the engagement saved the lives of numerous Marines. By his steadfast courage, superior professional skill and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Sergeant Lenna upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.