The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman Donald E. Counce (NSN: 6861529), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in connection with military operations against the enemy while serving as a Corpsman attached to Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against Viet Cong forces in the Republic of Vietnam, on 28 February 1966, during Operation NEW YORK. On that date, when two Marines were seriously wounded while racing across a fire-raked, open terrain in a daring assault on an enemy machine gun position, Hospitalman Counce hurried to their aid. After treating the first Marine, he crawled 30 yards under fire to reach the second man. His aggressive action motivated others to pursue the attack and eventually overcome the enemy forces.