The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Kevin J. Frey (MCSN: 2422000), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company D, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 27 February 1969, Lance Corporal Frey’s platoon was directed to seize a vital piece of terrain in the A Shau Valley which was controlled by North Vietnamese Army forces occupying a well-fortified bunker complex. As the lead element approached to within five hundred meters of the objective, the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenade fire which pinned down the rear of the platoon and left Lance Corporal Frey’s squad in an exposed frontal position. Despite the intense enemy fire and the lack of natural cover, Lance Corporal Frey’s unit maneuvered to within three hundred meters of the hostile bunkers and fearlessly initiated an aggressive assault against the enemy. Finding it impossible to properly position his machine gun due to the extremely rugged terrain, Lance Corporal Frey boldly stood in full view of the North Vietnamese soldiers and delivered devastating fire upon a hostile bunker from a shoulder position, thereby enabling his comrades to advance. Repeatedly exposing himself to the vicious fire raking the area, he delivered accurate fire into bunker apertures, destroying automatic weapons and grenade launchers, as his men moved to within hand grenade range and silenced the enemy soldiers. After the squad had overrun the emplacements and were consolidating the position, Lance Corporal Frey continued to pursue the routed hostile unit with machine gun fire, effectively denying it an opportunity to counterattack. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in the seizure of a large cache of North Vietnamese Army weapons and equipment. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Frey contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.