The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Emerson Martin (MCSN: 2475620), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman with Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the night of 29 May 1969, Private First Class Martin was occupying a three-man listening post forward of an ambush site in Quang Nam Province when one platoon of an estimated North Vietnamese Army company commenced its assault on the Marine perimeter from a point near his position. Detecting the first enemy movement, he immediately alerted his fellow Marines and successfully detonated two claymore mines, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile soldiers and causing them to temporarily halt to reorganize. This action alerted the Marines in the night defensive position in time to man the perimeter for the anticipated North Vietnamese attack. When the numerically superior hostile force began to deliver an extremely heavy volume of rocket propelled grenade, small arms, and automatic weapons fire as it advanced, Private First Class Martin, undaunted by the hostile rounds impacting around him, resolutely stood up and delivered accurate fire against the enemy who were now within fifteen feet within his position. Running low on ammunition and realizing that his emplacement was untenable, he left his fighting hole and moved with another Marine toward the perimeter. Surrounded as they moved across the hazardous terrain, both men were seriously wounded by fragments from enemy grenades. Undaunted by his painful injury, Private First Class Martin, unable to continue firing due to his weakened condition, valiantly lifted himself up and thrust himself toward the nearest hostile soldier, shouting defiance until he was mortally wounded by a burst of automatic weapons fire. His heroic action and aggressive fighting spirit delayed the determined North Vietnamese assault sufficiently to enable his platoon to successfully defend itself against the enemy onslaught. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty, Private First Class Martin upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.