The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Earl Dewayne Byler (MCSN: 0-106933), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company G, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 January 1969, Second Lieutenant Byler was leading a squad size patrol in an area northwest of Con Thien when the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms fire from a numerically superior hostile force occupying well-concealed emplacements. An OV-10 Bronco observation aircraft performing a support mission overhead immediately initiated a bombing and strafing run on the enemy positions which, because of the proximity of the hostile force to the friendly unit, wounded Second Lieutenant Byler and another Marine. Detecting by the sound of the aircraft’s engine that the pilot was commencing another run, Second Lieutenant Byler ignored his painful injury and unhesitatingly threw himself across the body of the more seriously wounded man, sustaining additional injuries. Momentarily stunned, he recovered quickly and, although weakened by the loss of blood, supervised the establishment of a defensive perimeter in the event of a possible enemy attack and directed his radio operator to advise the OV-10 pilot of their location. By his outstanding courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Byler inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.