The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Major William Edward Fales (MCSN: 1039761), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Sergeant Major of the First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the early morning of 19 March 1969, the First Battalion’s Command Post at the Liberty Bridge cantonment in Quang Nam Province came under an intense attack by a hostile company supported by rocket and mortar fire. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Major Fales unhesitatingly left the relative safety of his bunker and fearlessly moved across the fire-swept terrain to the point of the heaviest contact. Rallying individual Marines as he advanced, he led them to the perimeter and bravely maneuvered his small force directly into the path of the attacking enemy. Observing a large group of hostile soldiers advancing through several openings in the perimeter wire, he rapidly positioned his men and ably directed them in killing the entire force without sustaining a single casualty. Maneuvering his Marines along the wire, he successfully defeated the enemy during several contacts and then he led his men to the eastern perimeter to reinforce a beleaguered section of the main defensive line. Completely disregarding the hostile rounds impacting nearby, Sergeant Major Fales skillfully directed the defensive fire of his Marines until they gained fire superiority. Observing a violent fire fight near the command bunker two hundred yards away, he again organized a small group of men and, after analyzing the tactical situation, enveloped the enemy and personally led an assault upon the hostile soldiers, defeating them in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Leading his patrol around the position, he then killed several additional hostile soldiers and managed to evacuate several wounded Marines. By his courage, aggressive leadership and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Sergeant Major Fales was instrumental in his battalion accounting for seventy-two hostile soldiers confirmed killed and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.