The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Gary Don Dockendorff (MCSN: 0-93066), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company M, Third Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 20 August 1966, Second Lieutenant Dockendorff’s Company was engaged in a search and destroy mission in the vicinity of An Hoa. His platoon was the lead element of the Company, reinforced with a section of tanks. Suddenly they came under a heavy volume of small arms, automatic weapons and anti-tank fire from a company of Viet Cong which was well entrenched in a dense tree line 100 meters to the front. Displaying uncommon courage and forceful leadership, Second Lieutenant Dockendorff deployed his platoon and led an aggressive assault into the enemy position. During the advance he was severely wounded in the leg by small arms fire, but bravely arose and continued to lead his platoon forward. Observing two of his men lying wounded in an open rice paddy, he immediately moved toward them under heavy fire. Reaching the casualties, he began pulling one to a covered position when he was again wounded, in the arm and hand, nevertheless, Second Lieutenant Dockendorff selflessly continued to lead his platoon until it had driven the enemy from their positions. His aggressive and courageous actions in the face of heavy, accurate fire, while suffering from two wounds, neutralized a stubborn enemy force and kept his losses to a minimum. By his daring actions, inspiring leadership and outstanding devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Dockendorff upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.