The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant James M. Burch (MCSN: 0-90802), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the Commanding Officer of Company H, Second Battalion, Third Marines, and participating in Operation ALLEGHENY in the Dong Lam Mountains, Republic of Vietnam. On 26 August 1966, First Lieutenant Burch displayed an unusual degree of personal courage in action against tenacious and well dug-in Viet Cong forces. Fighting for its objective, the company went down onto the Viet Cong defenses, and was met by intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire pouring from caves, tunnels, and trees. The extremely dense jungle undergrowth and an eighty foot tree canopy overhead severely limited the use of supporting arms fires. Quickly grasping the situation, Lieutenant Burch directed one platoon to set up a base of fire, then led the remainder of his company in an assault on the well dug-in Viet Cong. Shouting words of encouragement to his men, he moved forward into the face of intense enemy small arms fire, and leading his company, assaulted through the viciously defended Viet Cong positions, destroying the enemy therein. Within the one hour period of the fire fight, 66 Viet Cong defenders had been killed and 23 had been wounded. His aggressive and fearless leadership in the face of heavy enemy small arms fire was an inspiration to all who observed him. By his daring actions and loyal devotion to duty in the face of great personal risk, Lieutenant Burch upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.