The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Marvin William Clements (MCSN: 2357427), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company L, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 29 August 1968, Corporal Clements’ platoon was moving with Company M of the Third Battalion to establish a blocking position near Hill 55 southwest of DaNang, when the lead elements of the company received intense hostile sniper fire. As Corporal Clements’ unit maneuvered across a large field in an attack on the enemy’s flank, the Marines suddenly came under a heavy volume of automatic fire delivered from three sides by a large North Vietnamese Army force and sustained numerous casualties. With complete disregard for his own safety, Corporal Clements immediately directed one of his men in delivering suppressive machine gun fire on a fortified enemy position in a treeline five meters to his front. When the weapon malfunctioned, he rapidly restored the machine gun to an operative condition and, alertly observing a North Vietnamese soldier in a nearby bunker, quickly killed the man with an accurate burst of fire. Boldly exposing himself to the intense fire, he fearlessly ran toward a fortified emplacement and was attempting to throw a hand grenade inside, when he was knocked to the ground by a hostile grenade which exploded at his feet and wounded him. Ignoring his painful injuries, Corporal Clements again maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain and successfully destroyed the North Vietnamese bunker with a hand grenade. Continuing his determined efforts, he ignored the hostile fire as he assisted in treating the injured men and moving them to a more covered position for medical evacuation. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion duty at great personal risk, Corporal Clements contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.