The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Daniel J. Bott (MCSN: 1694088), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 August 1968, while Company D was conducting a combat patrol in Quang Tri Province, the Marines came under a heavy volume of mortar and automatic weapons fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force occupying well-fortified positions in a tree line. During the initial moments of the fierce fire fight, the company commander was mortally wounded and the friendly force sustained numerous other casualties. Unhesitatingly assuming command, Staff Sergeant Bott, unwilling to incur excessive Marine injuries, skillfully deployed the company to previously prepared defensive positions and requested air strikes upon the hostile emplacement. Realizing the necessity of marking the enemy fortifications for the fixed-wing aircraft, he fearlessly moved from one Marine to another, gathering smoke grenades. In a splendid display of valor, he then raced across the fire-swept terrain to the tree line and, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was a vulnerable target for North Vietnamese gunners who concentrated their fire on him, he ran along the enemy lines and marked their positions with his grenades. After returning to his defensive perimeter, he observed another concentration of hostile soldiers and, fully aware of the possible consequences of his daring actions, again braved the vicious North Vietnamese fire to mark the location of the second unit. Returning safely to his original position, he then organized his men in effective fighting positions and for the next several hours, continued to engage the enemy without sustaining Marine casualties. His heroic and aggressive actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in the defeat of the North Vietnamese Army force. By his courage, dynamic leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Staff Sergeant Bott contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.