The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Stephen G. Marcombe (MCSN: 2303802), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a Machine Gun Team Leader attached to the Second Platoon, Company M, Third Battalion, fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in the Republic of Vietnam on 2 June 1967. During Operation UNION II near Vinh Huy (3), Quang Tin Province, the Second Platoon, as point platoon for the company, came under intense enemy automatic weapons, small-arms and mortar fire from several concealed positions in a hedgerow surrounding the company objective. Lance Corporal Marcombe, without hesitation, skillfully moved his machine-gun team to the forward element of the Second Platoon and found a position commanding the terrain to his front. From this position he directed heavy and accurate fire into the enemy positions. He courageously exposed himself to continuous and massed enemy fire, in order to regain better observation and direct the fire of his machine-gun team, while demonstrating great skill in directing his team’s fire. His actions directly resulted in the destruction of two enemy machine-gun positions. After two hours and forty-five minutes of continuous fire support and in the final drive for the company objective, Lance Corporal Marcombe was mortally wounded as he was aggressively maneuvering his gun forward to pinpoint an enemy machine-gun position. His efficiency and selfless devotion to duty inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and in large measure assisted his company in successfully seizing the objective. Lance Corporal Marcombe’s actions throughout reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.