The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman Gerald M. Greer (NSN: 6951603), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Corpsman attached to Company D, 1st Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, during operations against insurgent communist guerrilla forces in the Republic of Vietnam, on 21 March 1966. During Operation TEXAS, Hospitalman Greer was moving with his company toward an enemy stronghold in Quang Ngai Province when well-concealed Viet Cong initiated a devastating volume of fire, pinning down one of the platoons and wounding several men, including the Platoon Corpsman. Quickly realizing the need for medical aid, Hospitalman Greer unhesitatingly left his protected position and advanced through the withering fire to aid the wounded. In direct view of the enemy, he treated two casualties and moved them to covered positions. As enemy rounds continued to spray the ground around him, he courageously moved down the exposed slope and managed to render effective aid to two more casualties. Too exhausted to carry the men to a safe area, he valiantly chose to shield them from the vicious enemy fire with his own body until assistance was available. By his exceptional concern for others at great risk to his own life, coupled with daring initiative and unfaltering dedication to duty throughout, Hospitalman Greer upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.