The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Mark Haskin Eaton, United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Sergeant Eaton distinguished himself on 13 August 1971 while serving as Assistant Team Leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-controlled territory. In the early morning, the team hastily ambushed a superior-size enemy force that had been sweeping the area. Sergeant Eaton immediately began placing a heavy volume of CAR-15 fire on the advancing force, inflicting heavy casualties on them. The enemy then regrouped and aggressively assaulted the reconnaissance team’s position, utilizing small arms, hand grenades, automatic weapons, rocket propelled grenades and B-40 rockets. Valiantly, Sergeant Eaton rallied his team while repeatedly exposing himself to a hail of hostile fire in order to direct the defense of the team’s position. Again he inflicted heavy losses on the enemy by returning deadly volume of CAR-15 fire, thwarting the enemy assault until he was mortally wounded. At the cost of his life, Sergeant Eaton’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.