The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Paul S. Drury (MCSN: 2376703), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 4 August 1968, elements of Company D were conducting a search and destroy operation near An Hoa in Quang Nam Province, and as Lance Corporal Drury’s platoon began crossing a large open area, the Marines came under a heavy volume of hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire and were pinned down. Alertly observing the enemy machine gun emplacement that was directing fire against his unit, Lance Corporal Drury skillfully delivered accurate fire against the hostile position, pinpointing its location for his M-60 machine gun teams. Realizing that one of his weapons had malfunctioned and that the gunner was unable to repair the M-60, Lance Corporal Drury fearlessly ran across the fire-swept terrain and rapidly restored the weapon to an operative condition. Disregarding his own safety, he then moved to his other team and, seizing the machine gun, commenced delivering a heavy volume of suppressive fire which enabled his platoon to consolidate its position. When his unit was ordered to withdraw, Lance Corporal Drury steadfastly remained in his dangerously exposed position and continued to direct intense covering fire upon the enemy, rejoining his squad only after his comrades had moved to a position of relative safety. His heroic actions and aggressive leadership inspired all who observed him and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, bold initiative and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lance Corporal Drury upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.