The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Chief Warrant Officer Thomas F. Parks, III, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Battalion Infantry Weapons Officer, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 3 April 2003. When the Battalion’s forward command element was engaged by enemy forces with intense small arms and rocket fire, Chief Warrant Officer Parks dismounted to direct the security operations. Exposing himself numerous times to enemy fire, he moved from position to position, encouraging Marines and directing the employment of their fires to neutralize enemy strong-points. During the fighting, Chief Warrant Officer Parks personally dispatched three enemy personnel, including a sniper. Amidst a hail of machine gun and sniper fire, Chief Warrant Officer Parks destroyed an enemy T-55 tank with an AT-4 rocket and proceeded under heavy small arms fire to direct the employment of an American tank. As a result of his orders, the tank was able to destroy several enemy bunkers and strong-points. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, ultimate courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, Chief Warrant Officer Parks reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.