The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Hospital Corpsman Second Class Douglas Louis Wean (NSN: B-514066), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman with Battery K, Fourth Battalion, Twelfth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 19 September 1968, while occupying a fire support position at the Rockpile in Quang Tri Province, Petty Officer Wean’s platoon came under a heavy volume of North Vietnamese artillery and small arms fire. During the ensuing attack, several rounds impacted in the powder storage area wounding numerous Marines and igniting an intense fire that spread through out the platoon area. Responding instantly to a call for medical assistance, Petty Officer Wean unhesitatingly left his position of cover and rushed across the fire-swept terrain to the side of a wounded comrade. Ignoring the fragmentation of exploding ordinance and the enemy small arms fire aimed at and impacting near him, he shielded the wounded Marine with his own body while calmly administering medical care to the casualty. When the wounded Marine was evacuated from the field of fire, Petty Officer Wean fearlessly moved to another wounded casualty and skillfully treated his wounds, until he was extracted from the combat area. His heroic actions and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades, inspired all who observed him and was instrumental in saving the lives of two Marines. By his courage, resolute determination and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Petty Officer Wean upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.