The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Robert P. Kimener (MCSN: 0-110642), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 26 June 1970, a squad from Company B was moving toward a selected ambush site in Quang Nam Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from North Vietnamese Army soldiers well concealed in heavy jungle growth nearby. During the initial moments of the fire fight, several Marines were seriously wounded and the squad’s radio was destroyed. Informed of the incident, Second Lieutenant Kimener unhesitatingly led a second squad to the scene of battle and, arriving at the site of the beleaguered unit, boldly disregarded the hostile fusillade as he deployed his men into effective fighting positions and directed their fire against the enemy. Heedless of the rounds impacting around him, he repeatedly traversed the fire-swept terrain to treat casualties and direct their evacuation aboard helicopters. Once he had cleared the battlefield of casualties, he rallied his men and led them in a bold assault against the enemy force. In the face of the determined Marine attack, the enemy broke contact and retreated. After returning to the combat base, the Marines sustained several additional casualties when the Company Command Post came under a vicious ground attack by North Vietnamese Army sappers. Quickly organizing the remaining physically able men, Second Lieutenant Kimener skillfully deployed them to strategic points along the defensive perimeter and, although constantly exposed to enemy small arms fire and grenade detonations, continually patrolled the forward positions to shout encouragement to his men and ensure that every possible avenue of enemy approach was adequately covered by fire. His heroic and determined actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in defeating two large, determined North Vietnamese Army forces. By his courage, superb leadership, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Second Lieutenant Kimener upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.