The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Robert Lee Buttry, Jr. (MCSN: 2307924), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine gunner with Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 1 August 1967 during Operation PIKE, Lance Corporal Buttry’s platoon was engaged in a search and destroy operation south of DaNang when it suddenly came under intense small arms fire from a numerically superior enemy ambush force. During the ensuing action, he and four other Marines became separated from the main element of the platoon and the assistant machine gunner was wounded. Completely disregarding his own safety, Lance Corporal Buttry exposed himself to hostile fire to deliver a heavy volume of suppressive fire, enabling one of his companions to move the injured man to a protected position. When a second Marine advanced to assist the critically wounded man, Lance Corporal Buttry again remained in the open to provide covering fire. Although he was forced to move because of the Viet Cong fire directed at his position, he steadfastly continued to provide effective counter fire. As the battle continued, he Marines were left with only one rifle, the machine gun and some hand grenades. At this point, the enemy attempted to overrun and annihilate the five men but, displaying outstanding courage, Lance Corporal Buttry single-handedly killed three Viet Cong and repulsed the assault. He heroically maintained his position until the machine gun was shot from his hands and he was seriously wounded. The enemy then overran his position but were subsequently routed by the grenades thrown by the three remaining Marines, which killed five Viet Cong. Realizing that he could not carry his machine gun from the hazardous zone because of his painful wound and weakened condition, Lance Corporal Buttry buried the buffer group of his weapon and crawled seventy-five meters to the rear where he collapsed from total exhaustion. Due largely to his fearless actions during the three and a half hours he and his companions were separated from the remainder of his platoon, he undoubtedly saved his fellow Marines from death or capture and enabled his platoon to resume its mission. By his bold initiative, selfless courage and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal Buttry inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.