The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Thomas Calderone (MCSN: 2207193), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company B, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 31 May 1968, Corporal Calderone’s squad was the point element of his company when the Marines suddenly came under heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire from a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force in Quang Tri Province, sustaining numerous casualties. Observing that the wounded men lay in positions dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, he instructed his radio man to provide covering fire and unhesitatingly moved toward the first casualty, immediately coming under accurate machine gun fire. Completely disregarding his own safety, Corporal Calderone boldly stood erect and hurled a hand grenade into the hostile emplacement, silencing the weapon and killing two North Vietnamese soldiers. Continuing his heroic actions, he advanced to the casualties’ positions, administered first aid and moved them to a covered location despite being painfully wounded by fragments from an enemy hand grenade. Upon the arrival of another squad, he refused medical treatment for himself as he took charge of the casualties. Only when all his men had been safely removed from the hazardous area did he allow himself to be treated and evacuated. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal Calderone saved the lives of numerous Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.