Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Hospitalman

    Batallion:

    3d Battalion

    Regiment:

    1st Marines

    Division:

    1st Marine Division

    Action Date:

    January 15, 1967

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman Dale E. Mertlich (NSN: 9182694), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman with Company M, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with military operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours on 15 January 1967, Hospitalman Mertlich’s unit was attacked by a numerically superior Viet Cong force, estimated to be of battalion size. Armed with small arms, automatic weapons, hand grenades and satchel charges, the enemy force launched a three-pronged human wave assault and succeeded in penetrating a portion of the platoon’s defensive perimeter. In the ensuing fire fight, Hospitalman Mertlich received serious head wounds when a satchel charge was thrown into his bunker. Disregarding his own painful wounds, Hospitalman Mertlich began moving through the intense fire in order to administer first aid to his wounded companions. For the next two hours, Hospitalman Mertlich continued administering aid despite additional wounds he received from a grenade blast as he ran across the fire-swept area. When the enemy assault had been repelled and rescue helicopters had landed, Hospitalman Mertlich assisted in carrying the wounded to the landing zone. By his courageous actions, outstanding professional competence and selfless devotion to duty, Hospitalman Mertlich minimized the suffering of numerous Marines and thereby upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.