The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Carl S. Chambliss (MCSN: 2532187), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Assistant Team Leader with Company A, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 23 April 1970, Lance Corporal Chambliss was Point Man for his eight-man long-range reconnaissance patrol that was operating in the Que Son Mountains in Quang Nam Province. Observing five North Vietnamese Army soldiers coming down a trail toward his position, he immediately alerted his patrol and then commenced firing at the enemy when they ignored the patrol leader’s command to surrender. After the Marines had killed all five of the enemy and gathered all items of intelligence value, the reconnaissance team continued on its mission and was nearing a tree line when Lance Corporal Chambliss sighted another enemy soldier and fired at him. Detecting movement in the undergrowth on three sides of his position, he moved with his comrades to form a defensive perimeter. With complete disregard for his own safety, he then accompanied the patrol leader approximately thirty meters up a trail and provided covering fire while a directional anti-personnel mine was emplaced. Returning to the perimeter, he selected an effective firing position and, during the ensuing fire fight, delivered extremely accurate fire which killed several of the enemy and successfully repulsed determined attacks by the numerically superior hostile force. When a transport helicopter landed in the hazardous zone to extract the team, Lance Corporal Chambliss picked up the weapon of one of his comrades who was mortally wounded and used each of his weapons to deliver a heavy volume of fire at the onrushing enemy, halting their vicious assault. As the Marines moved toward the aircraft, he positioned himself at the rear of the column to provide covering fire and, when all of his companions were aboard the helicopter, moved to an exposed position on the rear ramp and fearlessly remained in his precarious vantage point to continue firing with such devastating effectiveness that the hostile fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable the aircraft to lift out of the perilous area. His valiant actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in preventing his outnumbered team from being overrun. By his courage, bold initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lance Corporal Chambliss upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.