The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Michael A. Emmons (MCSN: 2385269), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Combat Engineer with Company B, First Engineer Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 8 December 1968, Private First Class Emmons was attached to Company H, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, which was assaulting a North Vietnamese Army position in the Dien Ban District of Quang Nam Province when the Marines encountered a large enemy cement-block bunker reinforced with logs. Realizing that the intense hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire delivered from the structure was delaying the attack upon the enemy position, Private First Class Emmons unhesitatingly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain to a location from which he could throw a satchel charge into the bunker. Ignoring the hostile rounds impacting near him, he calmly prepared an explosive charge with a ten second fuse. Fearlessly crawling to the top of the structure despite the fire directed at him from enemy soldiers located nearby, he lit the fuse and after boldly holding the charge for several seconds, he threw the explosive into the entrance of the bunker. As a result of the concussion, the structure collapsed, killing six North Vietnamese soldiers within the emplacement. His heroic and timely actions were an inspiration to all who observed him and enabled the Marines to obtain their objective. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Private First Class Emmons upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.