The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Scott B. Sampietro (MCSN: 2321303), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 30 September 1968, during a search and destroy operation, Company F was assaulting a North Vietnamese Army company occupying mutually supporting fortified positions near the village of Le Nam in Quang Nam Province when the Marines were pinned down by a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from a large enemy command bunker. Ignoring the hostile rounds impacting near him, Lance Corporal Sampietro skillfully maneuvered his men to a position on the flank of the enemy emplacement, where one Marine was seriously wounded. As the injured man was being treated by a Corpsman, Lance Corporal Sampietro observed an enemy hand grenade impacting two meters from the casualty and, shouting a warning, immediately threw his body across those of his two comrades as the hostile explosive detonated. Miraculously uninjured by the exploding grenade, Lance Corporal Sampietro calmly arose and had resumed directing the efforts of his men when he was seriously wounded by enemy rifle fire. Disregarding his painful injuries, he resolutely continued to lead his men in assaulting the hostile bunker until he was wounded again and subsequently assisted to a covered position. His bold initiative and heroic efforts inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his fire team seizing the North Vietnamese command bunker and killing six enemy soldiers. By his courage, resolute determination and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lance Corporal Sampietro upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.