The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Thomas Reynolds Hayden (MCSN: 2317751), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO (HMM-262), Provisional Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Nine, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 May 1968, Lance Corporal Hayden launched as an Aerial Gunner aboard a CH-46 helicopter assigned an emergency extraction mission in support of an eight-man reconnaissance team which had sustained numerous casualties while heavily engaged with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force eight miles northeast of the Khe Sanh Combat Base. Despite the intense enemy mortar, small arms and automatic weapons fire impacting in the landing zone, his pilot elected to land the aircraft. Upon learning that several of the beleaguered Marines were seriously wounded and unable to board the helicopter, Lance Corporal Hayden unhesitatingly left his position of relative safety and moved about the fire-swept terrain searching for the casualties. Ignoring the hostile mortar rounds impacting around him, he fearlessly carried several wounded men aboard the helicopter and, with complete disregard for his own safety, repeatedly searched for other members of the team until all the casualties were embarked. His bold initiative and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of several Marines. By his courage, resolute determination and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lance Corporal Hayden upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.