The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Daniel Albert Staggs (MCSN: 2371706), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Scout with Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 6 June 1968, while conducting a patrol southeast of Con Thien, a platoon from Company E suddenly came under an intense automatic weapons and hand grenade attack from a well entrenched North Vietnamese Army force and sustained numerous casualties. Observing that the wounded men lay in positions dangerously exposed to hostile fire, Private First Class Staggs volunteered to assist in moving them to a covered area. After aiding a companion in carrying a mortally wounded Marine into a bomb crater, he quickly realized that the intense fire from an enemy sniper prevented the other casualties from being evacuated. Seizing a machine gun, he unhesitatingly left his concealed position, and accompanied by another Marine, rushed across the fire-swept area and returned with an injured man. When his companion was mortally wounded, Private First Class Staggs immediately retrieved the radio carried by the man and established communications with an aerial observer. Although inexperienced in medical evacuation procedures, he quickly organized a helicopter landing zone and supervised the movement of wounded Marines into a central location for medial evacuation. Continuing his determined efforts, he then skillfully guided helicopters into the zone, thereby providing lifesaving evacuation for numerous casualties. By his courage, bold initiative and unswerving devotion to duty at great personal risk, Private First Class Staggs inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.