The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Michael L. Bolton (MCSN: 2235185), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Combat Engineer attached to Company D, First Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 August 1968, Company D’s point squad came under intense North Vietnamese automatic weapons and machine gun fire while on patrol northwest of Cam Lo in Quang Tri Province and was pinned down. Rapidly assessing the situation, Corporal Bolton completely disregarded his own safety as he unhesitatingly left the command group and ran across the fire-swept terrain to reach the beleaguered squad. Alertly observing a hostile rounds impacting near him, he boldly re-crossed the hazardous area and, when the platoon sergeant was wounded, skillfully deployed the unit’s machine guns to effective firing positions. Returning across the open terrain, he again braved the North Vietnamese fire as he aggressively assaulted two other enemy positions and succeeded in silencing the hostile fire. Continuing to ignore the enemy fire, he then assisted in administering first aid to the wounded and moving the squad to a more secure position. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving many of his fellow Marines from further injury or possible death. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Corporal Bolton upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.