The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Kenneth Eugene Gayer (MCSN: 2248157), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company A, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 January 1969, while conducting a patrol in the Ashau Valley in support of Operation DEWEY CANYON, Sergeant Gayer’s reconnaissance team came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Gayer deployed his patrol into defensive positions and directed their fire against the enemy unit. During the ensuing fire fight, he repeatedly disregarded his own safety as he moved from one position to another, encouraging his men and directing the fires of supporting aircraft against the enemy. When an element of the hostile unit crawled through the dense jungle foliage to within fifteen meters of the friendly position and opened fire, Sergeant Gayer boldly directed his men in returning accurate and intense fire which killed three enemy soldiers. Realizing that the enemy force was attempting to surround his team, he rallied his Marines and began to maneuver them out of the hazardous area. Undaunted by the enemy rounds impacting near him, he skillfully led his men to a landing zone from which they were expeditiously extracted from the hazardous area by a transport helicopter. By his courage, superb leadership and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Sergeant Gayer inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.