The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Thomas J. Vallely, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Radio Operator with Company A, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 13 August 1969, Company I was conducting a search and destroy operation approximately five miles north of An Hoa in Quang Nam Province. As the Marines proceeded toward their objective, the point element came under a heavy volume of small arms, automatic weapons, machine gun, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from a well-concealed North Vietnamese Army force occupying a tree line. Alertly observing that his unit had sustained several casualties and had been separated from the remainder of the company, Lance Corporal Vallely immediately radioed for reinforcements. After gathering ammunition from the wounded men, he boldly assumed a forward position less than ten meters from an enemy machine gun emplacement and commenced delivering accurate fire at the North Vietnamese Army soldiers. Undaunted by the hostile rounds impacting near him, Lance Corporal Vallely resolutely maintained his exposed position and single-handedly suppressed the enemy fire, enabling a reaction force to maneuver to his position. After marking the enemy emplacement with smoke, he made repeated trips across the fire-swept terrain, relaying instructions from his wounded company commander, encouraging his companions, and effectively pinpointing hostile troop concentrations. His heroic and timely actions and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the subsequent defeat of the North Vietnamese Army force. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming odds, Lance Corporal Vallely upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.