The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Daniel George Thomas (MCSN: 2311302), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Crewman with Company A, Third Amphibian Tractor Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 February 1968, Corporal Thomas’ amphibian tractor was participating in a mine clearing operation on National Route FIVE near Dai Loc, with a secondary mission of retrieving an amphibian tractor which had been damaged earlier by an enemy mine. Upon clearing the road, two amphibian tractors accompanied by two squads of infantry and a detachment of combat engineers proceeded to the location of the damaged tractor. While preparing to retrieve the vehicle, the unit came under intense small arms, automatic weapons and recoilless rifle fire from a numerically superior enemy force. Reacting instantly, Corporal Thomas mounted his amphibian tractor and, with complete disregard for his own safety, commenced delivering effective machine gun fire at the enemy. Alertly observing an enemy element attempting to surround his unit, he delivered a heavy volume of accurate fire, which halted the hostile force and prevented his unit from being encircled. Although his tractor received two direct hits from recoilless rifle fire during the thirty minute fire fight, he fearlessly remained in his dangerously exposed position until a third direct hit hurled him to the ground and knocked him unconscious. After regaining consciousness, he unhesitatingly climbed aboard the other amphibian tractor and drove it out of the hazardous area, leading the other Marines to a more covered position and enabling air strikes to be brought to bear on the hostile emplacements. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Corporal Thomas contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.