The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal Douglas Gene Foster (MCSN: 2221643), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the Assistant Squad Leader with Combined Action Platoon 1-3-1, Third Marine Amphibious Force, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 124 September 1968, Corporal Foster was assigned to lead a six-man patrol in search of a Viet Cong unit which had been seizing food and money from the inhabitants of a village in Quang Ngain Province. Skillfully maneuvering his men, he quickly arrived in the designated area undetected and engaged the hostile force, resulting in one enemy soldier killed. Subsequently, the patrol was detected by a numerically superior enemy force and came under a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire and a hand grenade attack. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Corporal Foster unhesitatingly exposed himself to the intense hostile fire in order to cover the withdrawal of his men to a relatively covered position. Fearlessly remaining in his hazardous position, he resolutely continued to deliver suppressive fire on the enemy force until he was mortally wounded. His heroic and unhesitating actions resulted in three enemy soldiers killed and prevented an attack on a friendly village. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Corporal Foster upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.