The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Randolph Glenn Copeland (MCSN: 0-80139), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 4 March 1968, a fifteen-man patrol made contact with a numerically superior force near Con Thien Combat Base and were in danger of being overrun. Upon being informed of the situation, Captain Copeland quickly organized a reaction force and, skillfully deploying his unit, led an aggressive assault on the enemy emplacements. Throughout the fire fight, he fearlessly exposed himself to the hostile fire to maneuver his unit, point out enemy targets and direct the fire of his men. After his men had overrun the hostile force and reached the beleaguered Marines, Captain Copeland quickly established a defensive perimeter and adjusted supporting artillery fire and airstrikes on the hostile emplacements, forcing the enemy to break contact and flee. He then requested medical evacuation helicopters and moved among his men offering words of encouragement and administering first aid to casualties. Largely due to his outstanding professionalism and aggressive fighting spirit, he was instrumental in his unit accounting for eleven North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed and destroying three enemy machine gun positions. By his courage, outstanding leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Captain Copeland upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.