The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Dale Elroy Skoglund (MCSN: 2310907), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Team Leader with Company D, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, Third Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 17 January 1969, Corporal Skoglund and his reconnaissance team were occupying a night ambush site near the Cua Viet River when the Marines detected sounds of hostile movement near the bank of the river. After deploying his men to a more effective position, Corporal Skoglund observed two North Vietnamese Army soldiers at the edge of the water and directing his men to fire, caused one enemy soldier to be wounded and the other to flee. Having secured the prisoner, he was leading a search for the missing North Vietnamese when the Marines came under small arms fire and a hand grenade attack. As the team rapidly engaged the enemy, three hostile soldiers were wounded and two others fled. With complete disregard for his own safety, Corporal Skoglund unhesitatingly pursued the enemy and killed them. Returning to his squad, he alertly detected another hostile soldier, and when he fired upon and killed the man, a grenade concealed on the North Vietnamese Army soldier exploded, wounding Corporal Skoglund in the head. Ignoring his painful injury, he steadfastly refused to be medically evacuated and when a reaction force arrived, he resolutely acted as Point Man while it conducted a thorough search of the area. By his courage, bold initiative and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal Skoglund inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.