The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Earl Glennell Darlington (MCSN: 0-96498), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company D, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam, on 22 November 1966. During Operation RIO BLANCO, while serving as Patrol Leader of a fifteen-man reconnaissance patrol in the vicinity of Quang Ngai, Second Lieutenant Darlington displayed exceptional leadership, a high degree of professional skill and extraordinary heroism. By intelligent tactical deployment of his unit, he positioned his patrol in such a manner as to provide good observation into two major areas of suspected Viet Cong activity. From the position selected, the patrol had thirty-two sightings of three hundred and seventy-eight Viet Cong and Viet Cong suspects. Second Lieutenant Darlington called and directed a total of ten artillery fire missions and four air strikes which resulted in one confirmed enemy killed and fifty-three probable enemy killed. After two days of continuous pressure, a Viet Cong force, estimated to be of Company strength, attacked his position with automatic weapons, small arms and mortars. Second Lieutenant Darlington consolidated his patrol and directed its fire to prevent the enemy from overrunning his position. For more than an hour, Second Lieutenant Darlington exposed himself to intensive enemy automatic weapons fire in order to identify and mark targets for aircraft providing close air support and to direct the fire of his patrol. With full knowledge of the hazards involved and with complete disregard for his own safety, he continued to expose himself to heavy fire while directing the operations of his unit and giving encouragement to his men. As a result of his action, his patrol was safely extracted with only one Marine slightly wounded. By his daring actions and loyal devotion to duty in the face of great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Darlington upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.