The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Captain Robert E. Hamilton, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against an armed hostile force while serving as United States Marine Corps Advisor to a Vietnamese Marine Battalion, on 30 and 31 July 1967, during Operation CORONADO II, in the vicinity of Cai Lay, Vietnam. Together with another battalion approximately 1,500 meters to the south, Captain Hamilton and his fellow soldiers were to trap three battalions of Viet Cong in heavy jungle surrounded by rice paddies. Landing in an open landing zone at 1100 hours, Captain Hamilton led his men toward the dense vegetation and, after progressing several hundred meters, the friendly force met a hostile barrage of enemy mortar, rocket, automatic weapons, and small arms fire. In complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Hamilton called in highly effective artillery fire and then maneuvered aggressively against the insurgents. Even though much of his element was pinned down, Captain Hamilton valiantly rallied his men repeatedly and, as bullets filled the air and pounded the ground around him, led the way across a strategic river. This prevented the Viet Cong from using the waterway as a possible avenue of escape. However, devastating hostile fire from bunkers hit previously with air strikes slowed the friendly force to a halt as darkness closed in. Throughout the night, Captain Hamilton maintained communications with air support in spite of radio damage. Just before morning, the Viet Cong launched a vicious attack upon the battalion to the south, and Captain Hamilton adjusted artillery and coordinated gunship and close air support until contact was broken around 0900. Captain Hamilton’s heroic actions in close combat with hostile forces are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Marine Corps.