The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Joseph Berthold Fiala (MCSN: 2231752), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Crew Chief with the First Armored Amphibian Company, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 1 March 1968, Corporal Fiala’s unit was participating in Operation SALINE II in Quang Tri Province when his amphibian tractor was struck by an anti-tank rocket round which wounded him and rendered him temporarily unconscious. Regaining consciousness, he quickly manned the tractor’s machine gun and killed an enemy sniper. Informed that his section leader had been seriously wounded, he unhesitatingly took charge of the unit and skillfully directed his men in delivering accurate fire which destroyed numerous hostile positions. Realizing that one of the sections vehicles was inoperable due to battle damage, he ably directed the evacuation of the vehicle and crew. Ignoring his painful injury, he continued to expose himself to hostile fire while leading his men during the remainder of the engagement. When his vehicle subsequently became lodged atop a pile of rubble while destroying an enemy bunker, he fearlessly dismounted and placed concreter blocks under the tracks in an attempt to free the tractor. Undaunted by the hostile rounds impacting near him, he located another amphibian tractor and moved across the fire-swept terrain to attach a tow cable to his vehicle, enabling it to be pulled free. Subsequently observing a tank which was mired in mud, he again exposed himself to the enemy fire to attach a tow cable to the vehicle and directed an attempt to pull the tank from the mud. By his courage, superb leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Corporal Fiala inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.