The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Albert Coachman (MCSN: 2350228), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, First Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 2 February 1968, during Operation SALINE, Corporal Coachman’s company was assaulting a battalion-size North Vietnamese Army force entrenched in positions in the village of Lam Xuan in Quang Tri Province when his platoon was temporarily pinned down by intense enemy fire. Completely disregarding his own safety, he fearlessly exposed himself to the heavy fire as he and four companions crawled thirty meters along a paddy dike to within ten meters of an enemy .50 caliber machine gun position. After throwing hand grenades at the North Vietnamese manning the weapon, he boldly stood up under intense fire and assaulted the emplacement, personally killing seven enemy soldiers and capturing one. He then led the remaining members of his platoon in an aggressive attack which drove the enemy to the northern sector of the village. By his bold leadership, dauntless courage and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal Coachman contributed immeasurably to the defeat of the hostile force and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.