The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospitalman Thomas A. Mullen (NSN: 9037446), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman with Company D, First Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 14 February 1966, Hospitalman Mullen was established with his unit at an observation post near the hamlet of Le My when an amphibian tractor, operating about three hundred meters away, detonated a land mine and burst into flames. Grabbing his medical kit, Hospitalman Mullen raced to help the occupants of the tractor. Undaunted by the ammunition which was exploding in the fierce fire, he was treating the wounded men who had been blown off the top of the tractor when he noticed that one casualty was still trapped inside. Making his way through ten feet of waist deep mud, he entered the blazing tractor and pulled the wounded Marine to safety. As he smothered the man’s burning clothing with his hands, he used his own body to shield the man from further danger as the tractor continued to burn, then exploded a second time. His swift treatment of the wounded men significantly eased their suffering and undoubtedly saved the lives of many. By his exceptional bravery at great risk of his life, superior professional skill and unfaltering dedication to duty throughout, Hospitalman Mullen upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.