The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant John Charles Yates (MCSN: 108133), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Radio Operator with Company A, First Amphibian Tractor Battalion, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 14 July 1967 during Operation Hickory II, Company A was advancing toward Hill 31 in Quang Tri Province when it came under intense enemy small arms, mortar and recoilless rifle fire from enemy positions in a tree line [ed. Note: it was a ridgeline on a sand dune, not a tree line] only thirty meters to its front. Under the initial barrage of enemy fire, Sergeant Yates and the command group were forced to disembark their amphibian tractor and move to a covered position. As enemy fire increased, the company moved back leaving the command tractor in front of company lines. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Sergeant Yates gave his radio to a companion and, braving heavy machine gun fire, ran twenty meters to the damaged command tractor. With complete disregard for his own safety, he fearlessly climbed to the top of the vehicle and manned the machine gun. Subsequently forced to abandon his position because of the intense enemy fire, Sergeant Yates threw a 60 mm mortar tube to the ground, obtained four boxes of ammunition and disembarked the beleaguered vehicle. Retrieving the mortar, he returned across the exposed area to his former position, held the weapon in his bare hands and commenced to direct accurate suppressive fire against the enemy. When the mortar became hot, he wrapped a cloth around it [ed. Note: the cloth was actually the green towel from around his neck] and continued to fire at the enemy, pinning them down until their positions were destroyed by an air strike. His daring actions in the face of extreme danger inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving many Marines from death or serious injury. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Sergeant Yates upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.