The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Jerry Michael Davis (MCSN: 2486554), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company A, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 24 February 1969, Company A was conducting a search and destroy operation south of Hill 22 in Quang Nam Province. Two squads of Lance Corporal Davis’ platoon, the lead element, had passed through a wooded area, and Lance Corporal Davis alertly detected several suspected, hostile firing positions. Reacting instantly, he immediately fired upon the first enemy position, thereby alerting his comrades to the presence of hostile soldiers. After killing two enemy soldiers at the first position, he aggressively assaulted another position and, having expended his grenades, called to a companion to throw him one to use on a tunnel into which two other hostile soldiers had retreated. When the grenade the Marine had thrown to him fell short of his position, Lance Corporal Davis fearlessly crawled across the fire-swept terrain to reach it and then threw it into the tunnel, killing more enemy soldiers. As the two squads withdrew to rejoin the company, Lance Corporal Davis assisted with the evacuation of the wounded while simultaneously providing covering fire for his men. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving many Marine lives. By his courage, resolute determination and unswerving devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lance Corporal Davis upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.