The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Lloyd R. Hickey (MCSN: 2344181), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Field Artillery Batteryman with the First Provisional 155-mm. Howitzer Detachment, Third Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the evening of 8 February 1969, the detachment position in Quang Tri Province came under a heavy enemy artillery and mortar attack. Reacting instantly, Corporal Hickey commenced delivering a devastatingly accurate barrage of counterbattery fire upon the North Vietnamese Army positions. Alertly observing that two hostile rounds had ignited the adjacent powder bunker and that the exploding canisters were rapidly spreading the fire throughout the position, he immediately proceeded to the flaming howitzer emplacement. Fearlessly exposing himself to the danger of exploding rounds, Corporal Hickey made repeated trips into the bunker and assisted in removing the highly explosive ordinance. After most of the ammunition had been salvaged, he resolutely remained in the hazardous area, which was now completely ablaze, in a violent attempt to save the valuable howitzer site, but was forced to abandon his mission and leave the bunker due to the intense heat and flames. Shortly thereafter, another explosion greatly increased the intensity of the fire. Boldly reentering the flaming position, Corporal Hickey ably directed the efforts of his men and was in the process of removing the last of the endangered projectiles when he was seriously wounded by an additional explosion. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, determined efforts and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Corporal Hickey upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.