The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Eugene Bench (MCSN: 0-51325), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, from 18 to 24 July 1966 in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During Operation HASTINGS in Quang Tri Province, Lieutenant Colonel Bench’s Battalion was clearing the Song Nam Valley ahead of the Third Battalion, Fourth Marines when the Third Battalion was attacked by a force of 1,000 North Vietnamese. During the attack, the column became divided and disorganized and required reinforcement. Quickly and skillfully, Lieutenant Colonel Bench organized a relief force of two companies and led his forces into the flanks of the enemy located on both sides of the valley, relieving the pressure on the battalion march column. While moving back through the valley in darkness and under continuous automatic weapons and mortar fire, he moved among his units to insure the continuous momentum of attack and assisted in the reorganization and positioning of the column in a secure area. Under his gallant leadership, the enemy attack was repulsed in the five hour battle, both battalions were expeditiously moved out of the valley with a minimum of losses, and thirty-nine casualties were evacuated to helicopter landing zones. On 21 July 1966, Company H was conducting a search operation when it was attacked by a force of between forty and fifty North Vietnamese, firing automatic and semiautomatic weapons. At the time, Lieutenant Colonel Bench, his staff, and several civilian correspondents were departing the Command Post. With exceptional presence of mind, he directed their orderly evacuation to safety, although they were under intense enemy fire. On the morning of 23 July 1966, Company H again became heavily engaged with an enemy force located in well camouflaged and entrenched positions. The Company was temporarily pinned down by automatic weapons fire and grenades and had sustained numerous casualties. With complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Colonel Bench braved deadly enemy fire to advance 200 meters from his position to a more advantageous position to assess the situation. He contacted and personally directed air support, an extremely difficult task because of the proximity of the enemy to the Marine unit. When two 250 pound bombs fell short of their target, landing near his Command Group, he remained calm and fearlessly continued to expose himself to the intense enemy fire in order to direct the air strikes. During an enemy mortar attack on his Battalion’s position on 24 July 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Bench was wounded in the initial burst of fire. With complete disregard for his own wounds, he repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile fire and continued to direct counter battery fire on the enemy positions. His gallant actions throughout this period were instrumental in preventing far greater casualties to his unit and in insuring the accomplishment of its mission. By his fearless courage, intrepid leadership, professional skill and unwavering dedication under the most hazardous of conditions, Lieutenant Colonel Bench upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.