The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant James Roscoe Cannon (MCSN: 0-93569), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company E, Second Battalion, Third Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 3 May 1967, Second Lieutenant Cannon’s platoon, which was responsible for the sector of the company defensive perimeter covering a critical avenue of approach near Hill 881, came under intense small arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire from a numerically superior North Vietnamese force. Despite the heavy fire around him, Second Lieutenant Cannon courageously moved among his men, consolidating and skillfully reorganizing his unit’s positions in order to prevent the enemy from penetrating his command post. On several occasions, he personally engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, driving back repeated attempts by the North Vietnamese to overrun his position and killing numerous enemy soldiers. Subsequently, he fought his way to the Company Command Post, informed the Company Commander of the tactical situation in his sector and assisted in coordinating the company’s defensive positions. After the enemy attack had been repulsed, Second Lieutenant Cannon organized his unit and aggressively led his men in searching out the enemy, routing them from their positions and inflicting heavy casualties on the North Vietnamese force. In large measure due to his inspiring leadership, determined fighting spirit and bold initiative, the perimeter defenses were quickly reestablished and his platoon, although suffering numerous casualties, remained an efficient fighting unit. By his courageous action, exceptional professionalism and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Cannon upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.