The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Daniel Andrew Hitzelberger (MCSN: 0-87413), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 22 January 1969, Captain Hitzelberger’s company was helicopter lifted to an area in Quang Tri Province with a mission to reconnoiter enemy controlled territory as phase one of Operation DEWEY CANYON. The landing was completed, he rapidly organized his men and immediately commenced an assault along an eight kilometer ridgeline. Encountering numerous hostile reconnaissance patrols during the next several days, he effectively deployed his men and quickly overpowered these units, seizing numerous documents of significant intelligence value in addition to accounting for three North Vietnamese Army soldiers confirmed killed. Directed to occupy commanding terrain farther to the south in preparation for the arrival of additional units, he rapidly reorganized his company and, on the afternoon of 31 January 1969, commenced the most difficult phase of his mission. Quickly overrunning a hostile outpost line, he killed three enemy soldiers and maneuvered his men in the direction of the Da Krong River, crossing it that night and deploying uphill. Continuing the mission early the next morning, Captain Hitzelberger met and defeated sporadic North Vietnamese opposition and, despite heavy rains and thick fog, proceeded to ably lead his men up the increasingly steep mountain. Resolutely determined to attain his objective despite sheer rock cliffs which halted the company’s progress, he dispatched patrols to locate alternate routes of advance. Slowly climbing up two thousand exhausting meters of muddy terrain in rapidly deteriorating weather which made re-supply completely impossible, his men met and successfully overcame isolated pockets of hostile resistance, unearthing additional valuable intelligence information. On the fourth morning of the mission, with visibility at twenty meters or less, the company encountered two additional North Vietnamese patrols and, in the ensuing fire fight, killed four enemy soldiers. After attaining the summit, repeated attempts to re-supply the company were thwarted by the adverse weather conditions, and Captain Hitzelberger was directed to return to the valley floor near the Da Krong River. Coming under a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed hostile force, he found his ability to maneuver severely restricted by the terrain. Undaunted, he fearlessly led an aggressive assault on the hostile position which inflicted numerous casualties on the North Vietnamese unit. The remainder of the descending route was marked by almost impassable terrain which frequently necessitated utilizing ropes to transport casualties down the cliffs. On the evening of 6 February, the company arrived at an area of improved visibility and was reinforced in addition to receiving their first supply of rations and ammunition. Two nights later, under the superb leadership of Captain Hitzelberger, the battle weary but still aggressive company arrived at its final destination. Captain Hitzelberger’s foresight in ensuring that his men initially carried extra rations and ammunition, and that they were thoroughly trained in fire discipline, were significant factors in the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his extraordinary courage, resolute leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Hitzelberger upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.