The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal [then Private First Class] Charles Thomas Coats (MCSN: 2352780), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Grenadier with Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 19 April 1968, Corporal Coats deployed with his unit to a bridge site near Khe Sanh to assist a squad from his company and a truck convoy which were surrounded by a numerically superior enemy force. Arriving at the designated area, he immediately began delivering M-79 grenade launcher fire into the enemy emplacements, enabling the casualties to be evacuated from the hazardous area. Expending his supply of ammunition, he picked up a rifle and continued delivering accurate suppressive fire until he observed several casualties lying in an exposed area. Accompanied by three other Marines, he unhesitatingly moved across the fire-swept terrain. As they neared the injured man, two of his companions were also seriously wounded. Undaunted by the continuous enemy fire around him, Lance Corporal Coats reached the side of the casualties and, aided by another Marine, carried one of his injured companions to a position of relative safety. Firing his weapon as he maneuvered forward, he courageously returned across fifteen meters of hazardous terrain to the side of his two wounded companions and moved one of them to a more secure area. Unhesitatingly returning a third time across the fire-swept terrain to evacuate another casualty, his rifle was knocked from his hand by enemy sniper fire. Ignoring the danger to his life, he obtained another rifle and, returning fire on the hostile position, moved to the side of his wounded companion and carried him to a protected area. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and unwavering dedication to duty in the face of extreme danger, Lance Corporal Coats upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.