The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Colonel Franklin Peter Eller, Jr. (MCSN: 0-67808), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service from August 1977 through August 1980. While serving as Depot Inspector, Colonel Eller prepared his command for an inspection by the Inspector General of the Marine Corps. His superb direction and coordination were instrumental in enabling his command to achieve an overall grade of excellent. Subsequently, assigned as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, he continued his high level of performance as he managed the largest single division at the Depot with over 150 military and 600 civilian personnel. Colonel Eller was directly involved in significant actions taken to improve the quality of life for Marines assigned to the Depot. His direction of the family assistance program made the Depot’s program a showpiece for the Corps. Colonel Eller’s distinctive achievements, exceptional professionalism, and unstinting devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
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Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Legion of Merit
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Bronze Star Medal
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Silver Star
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Franklin Peter Eller, Jr. (MCSN: 0-67808), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the Senior Battalion Advisor to the Fourth Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Brigade, in the hostile area of Binh Gia Village, Phuoc Tuy Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 31 December 1964. Captain Eller chose to accompany a company size patrol on an assigned mission of rescuing or recovering the remains of the crew of a U.S. helicopter shot down, although his task would normally have been assigned to the Assistant Battalion Advisor. At the crash site, the company was taken under heavy assault by an estimated Viet Cong Regiment. Despite the intense automatic weapons, small arms and mortar fire, Captain Eller calmly directed air strikes on the Viet Cong who were closing in all around him. Captain Eller was severely wounded in the nose and cheek and was partially blinded by the heavy flow of blood, however he continued to attempt to regain communications with air support. With all communication gone and faced with an overwhelming enemy, he steadied the troops and effected an orderly withdrawal. Despite his own wound, he twice refused medical evacuation until he had personally supervised the evacuation of all Vietnamese dead and wounded. His courage, exemplary leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
MajorAction Date:
February 23, 1968 – March 10, 1969
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Major Franklin Peter Eller, Jr. (MCSN: 0-67808), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service in various capacities with the FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam, from 23 February 1968 to 10 March 1969. Throughout this period, Major Eller performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Initially assigned as the Executive Officer of the First Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, he was instrumental in the efficient and expeditious deployment of his unit into combat operations and disregarded his own safety as he coordinated and supervised the activities of forward and rear echelons. Working tirelessly and with meticulous attention to detail, he established the base cantonment area, implemented sound management and administrative procedures, and initiated a logistic support program which ensured the expeditious resupply of combat committed units. Reassigned as the Operations Officer of Headquarters Battalion in May 1968, with concurrent duties in the same capacity with Subsector B, DaNang Northern Sector Defense Command, Major Eller planned and coordinated the construction of a complex defensive perimeter which extended over ten miles and contained 135 fortified fighting positions. In addition, he organized and trained three provisional rifle companies, developed a contingency fire plan, and supervised the execution of defensive actions which repulsed repeated attempts by large hostile forces to penetrate the battalion perimeter. His resolute determination and seemingly unlimited resourcefulness earned the respect and admiration of all who served with him and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his superb professionalism, dynamic leadership and unwavering devotion to duty, Major Eller rendered distinguished service to his country and thereby upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. (Major Eller is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)
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Bronze Star Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
CaptainAction Date:
May 8, 1964 – May 2, 1965
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” to Captain Franklin Peter Eller, Jr. (MCSN: 0-67808), United States Marine Corps, for meritorious service while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict with an enemy from 8 May 1964 to 2 May 1965, in the Republic of Vietnam. As a member of the Marine Advisory Unit, Naval Advisory Group, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Captain Eller served as field advisor to the 4th Infantry Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Brigade. In that capacity, he participated in five major combat operations against the insurgent communist guerrilla forces. During these prolonged periods of combat, Captain Eller, without regard for his personal safety or comfort, lived regularly with the Vietnamese Marines in the field. He habitually positioned himself with the forward elements of his unit, repeatedly exposed himself in the face of the enemy, and displayed the highest example of courage and leadership. Captain Eller’s coolness under fire, personal leadership, and devotion to duty provided an inspirational example to the Vietnamese Marines serving with him and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. (Captain Eller is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)