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 Second Lieutenant Jerry Eldon Siler (MCSN: 0-97889/1125371), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Patrol Leader with Company A, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division, from 21 December 1966 to 2 January 1967, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. While leading a reconnaissance patrol deep within enemy controlled territory, Second Lieutenant Siler engaged the enemy on five separate occasions, inflicting substantial losses on the Viet Cong forces and consistently providing valuable intelligence information concerning the enemy’s movement to higher headquarters. After observing an enemy force moving along a trail toward his position on 21 December 1966, Second Lieutenant Siler positioned his eight-man patrol for an ambush. The Viet Cong continued up the trail and halted their movement near his ambush site. Displaying great presence of mind and outstanding composure, he directed his men to hold their fire until the enemy had resumed their march to within ten meters of his position. Initiating the ambush, the patrol delivered a devastating volume of automatic weapons fire on the enemy force, immediately killing five Viet Cong and wounding two others. Despite the fact that the ambush revealed the general location of his patrol, Second Lieutenant Siler fearlessly remained in the enemy infested area for three days, observing and directing artillery fire on known Viet Cong positions. When his patrol again detected the presence of a large number of Viet Cong on 25 December, he stealth fully advanced with three of his men to a position from which he could more closely observe the enemy’s movements. Successfully moving back to the remainder of his patrol without being discovered, he reported his information before being heli-lifted out of the area. As a result of his timely and accurate information, a B-52 strike was delivered on the enemy positions with great success. On 30 December, Second Lieutenant Siler re-entered the area with a sixteen-man patrol to assess the results of the air strikes. He had separated the patrol into two units in order to cover more ground when the left flank unit came under intense fire from a Viet Cong force, located on the high ground. The initial burst of fire immediately wounded the point man. Realizing the dangerous position his unit was in, Second Lieutenant Siler quickly rallied the remainder of the patrol and repulsed the enemy force. After recovering the wounded Marine, he prepared a landing zone for the evacuation helicopter and directed artillery fire on the fleeing Viet Cong. Assured that the wounded Marine was safely aboard the aircraft, he once again led his patrol in pursuit of the enemy, continually providing valuable information regarding Viet Cong activity throughout the area. Later the same afternoon, he successfully ambushed a platoon-sized enemy unit, forcing them to break contact and withdraw. Throughout the night, despite the fact that enemy movement was heard all around his patrol’s position, his unit remained undetected. During the next day, when voices were heard nearby, Second Lieutenant Siler led his patrol to a vantage point where he observed an enemy column of approximately 1,000 men moving in proximity to his position. The enemy, well armed with machine guns and mortars, was advancing under cover of poor weather and low visibility, toward Marine positions to the north. Undetected, the Viet Cong force could have inflicted serious losses to Marine units, unaware of the impending danger. After relaying the information concerning the enemy movement, Second Lieutenant Siler effectively requested and adjusted combined supporting arms fire on the Viet Cong force. Despite the hardships caused by poor weather and food shortages, he steadfastly remained in the area to provide vital intelligence information on enemy movements. He continued to demonstrate his exceptional dedication to duty and uncommon professional skill when he relayed timely intelligence information on the morning of 2 January 1967. As his unit was advancing to join friendly forces moving south on a search and destroy operation, he saw a platoon-sized enemy force fleeing south. Unhesitatingly, he opened fire, killing two Viet Cong and wounding two others. Missing no opportunity to harass the enemy, he directed accurate artillery fire on the Viet Cong while waiting for the arrival of friendly forces. Throughout this period, his heroic actions and outstanding devotion to duty were an inspiration to his men and were a key factor in the successful completion of his missions. As a result of his highly professional abilities and daring actions, numerous enemy forces were discovered, valuable intelligence information was obtained and a large number of Viet Cong killed or wounded. By his complete disregard for his own safety in order to accomplish his assigned missions, Second Lieutenant Siler upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.