The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Bulger (MCSN: 0-50747), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 3 to 5 April 1969. On 3 April, Lieutenant Colonel Bulger was directed to initiate a search and destroy operation in an area containing sizeable hostile forces and, within a period of eighteen hours, planned, coordinated, and executed an intricate assault which resulted in seventy-four enemy soldiers killed and the disorganized rout of a hostile regiment. Boldly directing his Marines against a heavily-armed force occupying well-concealed emplacements in territory with which it was completely familiar, he steadfastly maintained a dangerously exposed position at the point of heaviest contact to better control his units and observe enemy activities. On 5 April, one of his companies and the battalion command group were advancing across unprotected terrain when the Marines came under a heavy volume of rocket-propelled grenades and small arms and automatic weapons fire. Observing that several inexperienced personnel had become disoriented by the din and confusion of battle and were immobilized in the fire-swept area, Lieutenant Colonel Bulger unhesitatingly moved across the hazardous clearing and, after speaking words of encouragement to the men, personally guided them to covered fighting positions. Having rapidly assessed the current tactical situation, he then maneuvered another company across two rivers and into a flanking movement. When his unit became temporarily pinned down and sustained numerous casualties, he again fearlessly exposed himself to the intense hostile rounds impacting all about him while he called or fixed wing air strikes, shouted instructions to his artillery liaison officer, and spoke words of encouragement to his Marines, thereby restoring the momentum of the successful attack. His resolute determination and heroic initiative inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in minimizing Marine casualties. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Bulger upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.