The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Simon Harold Gregory (MCSN: 0-87543), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company L, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in action against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 March 1966, during Operation Utah, First Lieutenant Gregory’s Company was engaged in an attack to relieve pressure and join a Vietnamese battalion in Quang Ngai Province. Both the Vietnamese and the enemy occupied the objective area, a hill covered with dense, shoulder high underbrush. Concealed in spider holes immediately forward of the Vietnamese positions, the Viet Cong withheld the main volume of their fire until Company L was within fifty meters of the crest. Disregarding his own safety in the withering fire, First Lieutenant Gregory moved among his platoons, skillfully controlling their movements and encouraging his men to pursue the attack. For three hours, although continuously exposed to heavy hostile automatic weapons fire, he directed the fierce hand to hand fighting for the positions on the crest of the hill, at the same time ensuring that casualties were evacuated to protected areas. Exhibiting superior skill and composure, he coordinated the attack through its final phases and successfully linked his unit with the Vietnamese battalion. As a result of his daring effort, the Viet Cong positions were destroyed and eighty-eight of the enemy was killed. By his extraordinary professional skill, valor in the face of devastating enemy fire and unfaltering dedication to duty, First Lieutenant Gregory upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.