The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Charles G. Kines (MCSN: 0-109043), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifle Platoon Commander with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 12 August 1969, Company C was assigned the mission of assaulting a fortified village which was occupied by a large enemy unit. As the Marines moved toward the objective, their advance was temporarily halted in a large open rice paddy by fire from hostile soldiers entrenched in a tree line. Directed to attack the tree line, Second Lieutenant Kines quickly deployed his men on line and led them in an aggressive assault across the open area until a heavy volume of hostile fire prevented the Marines from moving closer than thirty meters from the entrenched enemy. With complete disregard for his own safety, Second Lieutenant Kines fearlessly maneuvered from one position to another, evaluating the situation and directing his men while simultaneously requesting and adjusting Marine artillery fire and tactical air strikes on the enemy. After regrouping his platoon, he launched another attack and gained twenty meters before the Marines’ advance was halted again. Encouraging his men and exhorting them to greater efforts, he again led his unit forward until they breached the hostile unit’s first line of defense. Although painfully wounded during the final assault, Second Lieutenant Kines steadfastly refused medical evacuation and led his men in hand-to-hand combat until the Marines overran the enemy positions. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in inflicting heavy losses upon the enemy. By his courage, aggressive leadership, and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Kines upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.