The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Alfred A. Hammel, Jr. (MCSN: 1691303), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company A, First Engineer Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 26 June 1966, during Operation JAY, Company G, Second Battalion, to which Staff Sergeant Hammel’s engineer squad was attached, came under intense mortars, small arms, and automatic weapons fire from a well-entrenched, battalion-sized Viet Cong unit in Thua Thien Province. When the entire company became pinned down and was sustaining casualties, Staff Sergeant Hammel quickly formed his engineers into a rifle squad, skillfully maneuvered his men into an advantageous position and then directed the fire of his squad members upon the enemy element, which had a Marine platoon trapped in a hazardous area. After gaining fire superiority over the hostile element, he led a team across the fire-swept terrain and evacuated wounded Marines from a dangerously exposed area. On the following day, when the Marines again became engaged in combat with the Viet Cong, Staff Sergeant Hammel repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he fearlessly led his squad in evacuating several Marine casualties from the open area. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were responsible for saving the lives of seven wounded Marines. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Staff Sergeant Hammel upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.