The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Carl Allen, Jr. (MCSN: 0-96016), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company L, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 February 1969, during Operation TAYLOR COMMON, as First Lieutenant Allen deployed his forces against North Vietnamese Army soldiers occupying well-concealed emplacements in an area northwest of An Hoa, the lead platoon came under a heavy volume of mortar, rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire. Unhesitatingly leaving his relatively secure position, First Lieutenant Allen raced to a vantage point and, boldly standing in full view of the hostile force, skillfully adjusted supporting arms fire upon the enemy emplacements as he shouted directions to his beleaguered unit, thereby enabling the men to move to a more tenable location. Quickly formulating a plan, he directed his company forward into an attack position while he continued to adjust supporting arms fire against the objective, then, placing himself with the lead unit, he initiated an aggressive assault against the bunker complex. Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting around him, he shouted words of encouragement to his men as he exhorted them to greater efforts. When hostile soldiers emerged from their fighting positions in an attempt to deliver a heavy volume of fire upon the flank platoon, First Lieutenant Allen quickly moved across the fire-swept terrain and, shifting the supporting fires as a countermeasure to this new threat, enabled his men to overrun the enemy in that area. As he was returning to the center of his line, he sustained extensive wounds from the detonation of a mortar round but, despite excruciating pain, resolutely continued to lead hi men forward until they overran the North Vietnamese emplacements. Steadfastly refusing medical attention, he fearlessly moved to a vantage point and, although exposed to sniper fire, remained in his position for the ensuing two hours to direct air strikes upon the enemy soldiers as they attempted a disorganized withdrawal. Only after he had consolidated his position would he accept treatment for his serious injuries. His heroic and aggressive actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his company’s accounting for 105 North Vietnamese Army soldiers killed. By his courage, dynamic leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, First Lieutenant Allen upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.