The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Edmund Bench, Jr. (MCSN: 2478200), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman with Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 1 June 1969, Company G came under a vicious ground attack by a determined hostile force utilizing satchel charges, automatic weapons fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Observing that his squad leader was seriously wounded in the initial moments of the assault, Lance Corporal Bench unhesitatingly took charge of the squad and, fearlessly moving about the fire-swept area, shouted words of encouragement to his men and directed their accurate suppressive fire against the enemy soldiers, thereby enabling the Marines to repel the attack in their sector of the defensive perimeter. Noting the fanatic hostile soldiers assaulting in other locations, Lance Corporal Bench skillfully deployed his men to the point of heaviest contact and, although the enemy penetrated the friendly lines on his flanks, he repeatedly exposed himself to the intense hostile fire as he exhorted his men to greater efforts. Lance Corporal Bench’s splendid display of leadership and composure under fire resulted in repulsing the hostile thrust and was responsible for killing five North Vietnamese soldiers, apprehension of two prisoners, and the capture of numerous weapons. By his courage, aggressive initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Bench inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.