The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Alexander F. Prescott, IV (MCSN: 0-101397), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an 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. When the commanding officer of Company H was seriously wounded on 30 April 1968 during an assault against the heavily fortified hamlet of Dong Huan in Quang Tri Province, First Lieutenant Prescott immediately assumed command. Repeatedly exposing himself to hostile artillery, machine gun and recoilless rifle fire, he skillfully directed the fire and movement of his men against the numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. Inspired by his aggressive fighting spirit and superb leadership, his men continued forward in a determined attack, seized the objective and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. On 2 May, Company H launched an assault on the hamlet of Dinh To and was immediately counterattacked by an estimated battalion of North Vietnamese soldiers. Seriously wounded as he led his men against the enemy, First Lieutenant Prescott refused medical evacuation until he was assured that another officer had assumed command of the company. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, First Lieutenant Prescott upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
First LieutenantBatallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious BrigadeAction Date:
March 18, 1968
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Alexander F. Prescott, IV (MCSN: 0-101397), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with 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, during a battalion attack against elements of three North Vietnamese Army battalions in the fortified village of Vinh Quan Thuong in Quan Thuong in Quang Tri Province, First Lieutenant Prescott’s platoon was with the assaulting elements. When his unit was temporarily pinned down by heavy enemy small arms and mortar fire, First Lieutenant Prescott quickly deployed his men to establish a base of fire which facilitated the evacuation of casualties from the battle area. Completely disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire to fire a grenade launcher, a machine gun and several light antitank assault weapons and direct accurate counter-mortar fire against enemy emplacements. For the next several hours, he directed the fire of Marine snipers that killed North Vietnamese soldiers who had been forced from their bunkers by air strikes. Late in the afternoon when the assault of an adjacent company was halted by the heavy volume of North Vietnamese fire, First Lieutenant Prescott reacted immediately by leading his platoon in an aggressive assault across 100 meters of open terrain. Wounded during the attack, he refused medical treatment for himself in order to maintain the momentum of the attack. Although wounded a second time, he continued to direct his men until the enemy defenses were penetrated and the village was seized and only then would he allow himself to be medically evacuated. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, First Lieutenant Prescott upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.