The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain James Everett Livingston (MCSN: 0-84449), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 March 1968, Captain Livingston’s company was participating in a battalion assault against North Vietnamese Army positions in the fortified village of Vinh Quan Thuong in Quang Tri Province when a platoon from an adjacent company became pinned down by the heavy enemy fire. In an attempt to relieve the beleaguered unit, Captain Livingston maneuvered his company forward until the intensity of the fire from the enemy’s well-placed, mutually supporting bunkers forced his unit to withdraw to a more advantageous position. Coordinating with the commander of the second company, he then led his unit forward under cover of supporting air strikes and again was halted by the hostile fire. Observing a third company commence an assault against the enemy’s flank, Captain Livingston, completely disregarded his own safety as he jumped to his feet during a heavy rocket attack, rallied his men and led them in an aggressive charge against the North Vietnamese positions. His bold actions inspired all who observed him as the Marines seized the village, inflicting 127 North Vietnamese confirmed killed. By his courage, gallant leadership and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Livingston upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Medal of Honor
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense has awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal to Major General James Everett Livingston, United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally superior service to the Department of Defense. The distinctive accomplishments of Major General Livingston reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Marine Corps, and the Department of Defense.
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Medal of Honor
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
CaptainBatallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
4th Marines, 9th Amphibious BrigadeDivision:
3d Marine Division (Rein.) FMFAction Date:
May 2, 1968
The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Captain James Everett Livingston (MCSN: 0-84449), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 2 May 1968, while serving as Commanding Officer, Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in action against enemy forces at Dai Do, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Viet Nam. Company E launched a determined assault on the heavily fortified village of Dai Do, which had been seized by the enemy on the preceding evening isolating a Marine company from the remainder of the battalion. Skillfully employing screening agents, Captain Livingston maneuvered his men to assault positions across 500 meters of dangerous open rice paddy while under intense enemy fire. Ignoring hostile rounds impacting near him, he fearlessly led his men in a savage assault against enemy emplacements within the village. While adjusting supporting arms fire, Captain Livingston moved to the points of heaviest resistance, shouting words of encouragement to his Marines, directing their fire, and spurring the dwindling momentum of the attack on repeated occasions. Although twice painfully wounded by grenade fragments, he refused medical treatment and courageously led his men in the destruction of over 100 mutually supporting bunkers, driving the remaining enemy from their positions, and relieving the pressure on the stranded Marine company. As the two companies consolidated positions and evacuated casualties, a third company passed through the friendly lines launching an assault on the adjacent village of Dinh To, only to be halted by a furious counterattack of an enemy battalion. Swiftly assessing the situation and disregarding the heavy volume of enemy fire, Captain Livingston boldly maneuvered the remaining effective men of his company forward, joined forces with the heavily engaged Marines, and halted the enemy’s counterattack. Wounded a third time and unable to walk, he steadfastly remained in the dangerously exposed area, deploying his men to more tenable positions and supervising the evacuation of casualties. Only when assured of the safety of his men did he allow himself to be evacuated. Captain Livingston’s gallant actions uphold the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Major General James Everett Livingston (MCSN: 0-84449), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. His singularly distinctive accomplishments and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.