The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Franklin G. Hutchinson, Jr. (MCSN: 0-67488), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against the Viet Cong Communist insurgents in the Republic of Vietnam on the night of 15 – 16 March 1969. Major Hutchinson, attached to the U.S. Naval Advisory Detachment, DaNang and acting as an advisor/observer for the operation, accompanied a Vietnamese Navy combat patrol into enemy territory. His decisive action in the face of a serious enemy threat was responsible for saving the lives of four Vietnamese Navy squad members. Following a contact that left two enemy and one friendly dead, he observed three enemy soldiers move into an ambush across the river from his position. Shortly afterwards, four of the Vietnamese Navy squad members were seen moving toward the ambush site and repeated attempts to warn them by radio were unsuccessful. When the four squad members approached the danger point, Major Hutchinson fired at the enemy position, then swam 150 meters of open water under heavy illumination from friendly patrol craft. Upon reaching the team members, he moved them back a safe distance; then he advanced to a vantage point and called mortar fire from the river patrol craft onto the enemy position. Major Hutchinson’s heroic action in the face of extreme danger from an enemy force saved the four Vietnamese Navy squad members from walking into a fatal ambush. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.