The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Corporal [then Lance Corporal] La Von Giddens (MCSN: 2288707), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Mortar Squad Leader with Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 3 March 1968, Corporal Giddens was attached to a unit assigned to assist a friendly platoon engaged with a numerically superior enemy force near Duc Ky in Quang Nam Province. As his unit maneuvered forward, it suddenly came under intense hostile small arms and automatic weapons fire. Immediately deploying his weapon, he unhesitatingly moved to a dangerously exposed position and commenced directing accurate mortar fire on the entrenched enemy, which rapidly silenced a hostile machine gun emplacement. Alertly observing two wounded Marines pinned down in a rice paddy, he fearlessly ran across 200 meters of fire-swept terrain to the casualties’ location. Ignoring the hostile rounds impacting near him, he quickly carried one man to a covered position and, fearlessly returning to the second Marine, carried him to a position of relative safety. On 10 March, a friendly platoon again became heavily engaged near Duc Ky, and while moving forward to assist the besieged unit, Corporal Giddens’ reaction force suddenly received a heavy volume of hostile fire. With complete disregard for his own safety, he unhesitatingly exposed himself to the enemy fire while moving about the hazardous area, shouting words of encouragement to his men and skillfully directing accurate mortar fire, which killed three enemy soldiers. His bold initiative and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s missions. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Corporal Giddens upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.