The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Jack Wade Below (MCSN: 1889549), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company A, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 20 March 1967, while serving as the leader of a reconnaissance patrol being helicopter lifted into enemy controlled territory in the vicinity of Nui Dang, Quang Ngai Province, Staff Sergeant Below displayed exceptional bravery and presence of mind during a grave emergency. As the helicopter landed, it was immediately subjected to intense and accurate automatic weapons fire from fifty Viet Cong entrenched around the landing zone. The initial burst of enemy fire wounded seven of the eleven Marines aboard the aircraft and hit a fuel cell causing aviation fuel to flow into the troop compartment of the helicopter. Observing the crew chief sustain two wounds and fall from his gun position, Staff Sergeant Below, disregarding his own painful wounds, immediately manned the .50 caliber machine gun. Delivering a heavy volume of accurate fire, he killed two Viet Cong advancing toward the helicopter and suppressed the fire of the remaining enemy, enabling the aircraft to take off safely. As the helicopter became airborne, Staff Sergeant Below moved to the rear to attend to the wounded and inspect the damage to the aircraft. Upon observing smoke coming from the pack of a Marine sitting within three feet of the broken fuel cell, he calmly directed the Marine to remove the pack. At this moment, the pack, loaded with six pounds of high explosive C-4, twenty feet of time fuse, a Claymore mine, four M-26 hand grenades and 100 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, burst into flames. With exceptional presence of mind and complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Below, accompanied by the gunner, calmly carried the lethal bundle to the door and tossed it from the aircraft. His extraordinary initiative and inspiring courage in the face of extreme personal danger was instrumental in diverting an enemy attack and undoubtedly saved the lives of all aboard the helicopter. By his heroic and courageous actions, outstanding presence of mind and selfless devotion to duty, Staff Sergeant Below upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.