The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Robert J. Colasanti (MCSN: 2027058), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in connection with operations against the enemy In the Republic of Vietnam. On 2 May 1968, Company G became heavily engaged With a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force in the village of Dinh To in Quang Tri Province and two platoons were pinned down by the intense fire. Aggressively leading his platoon forward from its reserve position. Sergeant Colasanti established a base of fire which enabled the beleaguered platoon to withdraw. Subsequently, the enemy launched a fierce counterattack. Repeatedly exposing himself to hostile fire, he directed and encouraged his men, threw hand grenades at the enemy from his positioning the open and delivered accurate fire with his rifle to disrupt the attack. As the withdrawal progressed, Sergeant Colasanti observed two seriously wounded Marines pinned down by the enemy fire. Completely disregarding his own safety, he moved to the side on the injured men and Helped them move to a more secure position to the rear. Returning to a forward Position, he resolutely remained in the precarious position until all of the Marines Had moved to safety. By his dauntless courage, heroic action and selfless devotion To duty at a great personal risk, Sergeant Colasanti was instrumental in minimizing The number of friendly casualties and upheld the highest tradition of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.