The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Loren Wayne Bird (MCSN: 1517379), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company H, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 11 January 1968, Staff Sergeant Bird’s platoon was on a patrol northeast of An Hoa when it suddenly came under intense fire from a company-size enemy force entrenched in tree lines bordering a rice paddy. One squad was separated from the rest of the platoon and temporarily pinned down in the open. Immediately assessing the situation, Staff Sergeant Bird displayed exceptional tactical skill and leadership as he quickly organized the fire teams for movement across 200 meters of open terrain to the beleaguered Marines. Completely disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he moved to vantage points where he skillfully and aggressively moved the teams by fire and maneuver across the rice paddy while simultaneously providing covering fire with his own weapon. Wounded in both arms and in the chest by enemy automatic weapons fire coming from two directions, he paused only long enough to have the Corpsman bandage his injuries. Refusing medical evacuation, he continued to control the advance of his men and direct their fire against hostile positions. Undaunted by the danger to his own life, he ignored his painful wounds as he courageously moved with the last fire team across the fire-swept area. For the ensuing two hours, he remained oblivious to his weakened condition as a result of his serious loss of blood and steadfastly moved among his men, encouraging them, pointing out enemy targets and ensuring that maximum fire was being delivered against the Viet Cong. His dynamic leadership inspired his men to such aggressive action that they accounted for eleven enemy confirmed killed and forced the Viet Cong to break contact. Only then did he allow himself to be medically evacuated.