The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant Timothy John Shorten (NSN: 0-101482), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the Executive Officer of Company H, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 March 1968, First Lieutenant Shorten participated in a battalion attack against elements of three North Vietnamese Army battalions in the fortified village of Vinh Quan Thuong in Quang Tri Province. As the fighting grew in intensity during the initial stages of the attack, he effectively coordinated mortar fire against enemy emplacements and disregarded his own safety as he moved forward to the points of heaviest contact to evaluate the situation and assist in the evacuation of casualties. When an adjacent unit began receiving sniper fire, he led a squad to the exposed flank of the friendly unit and, directing effective mortar fire and throwing hand grenades, silenced the sniper fire in the area. Later in the day when a Marine squad became separated from the remainder of the company, First Lieutenant Shorten assumed command of the unit and led his men against several enemy-held bunkers. During the advance, he observed a North Vietnamese sniper positioned in a bunker to the front of his unit and, after organizing a two-squad attack force, commenced an assault against the fortified emplacement. During his unit’s advance, two Marines were killed and several others were wounded. Immediately employing a flame thrower against the bunker, he then assaulted the emplacement single-handed, throwing hand grenades and firing his pistol into the embrasure of the fortification, killing the North Vietnamese sniper and enabling his unit to advance. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty First Lieutenant Shorten upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.