The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Donald Joseph Chidgey (MCSN: 2181762), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Second Platoon, Company C, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in the Republic of Vietnam, on 10 October 1966. While serving as a Radio Operator in the vicinity of Long Binh, Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam, Lance Corporal Chidgey was a member of a thirteen-man reconnaissance patrol assigned the mission of observing the valley near Long Binh for enemy activity. At 1355 while moving from the Observation Post to a helicopter landing zone the patrol came under a heavy volume of enemy small arms fire and hand grenades delivered by an enemy force estimated at between 35 to 50. Lance Corporal Chidgey took up a defensive position on the right flank of the patrol and almost instantly suffered shrapnel wound to his head. Although painfully wounded in the head and bleeding profusely, Lance Corporal Chidgey continued the fight by throwing hand grenades and firing his rifle resulting in the death of two Viet Cong. When an enemy grenade was thrown at his position Lance Corporal Chidgey, without regard for his personal safety, rose to his feet and deflected the incoming grenade outside of the perimeter with his arms. Although wounded a second time by this action and knocked down, Lance Corporal Chidgey again rose to his knees and repeatedly delivered effective small arms fire to cover the rescue of a seriously wounded Marine. By his daring actions, utter disregard for his own personal safety and loyal devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Chidgey upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.