The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Jerome G. Knight (MCSN: 2181371), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Field Artillery Batteryman with Battery G, Third Battalion, Twelfth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 25 February 1969, Battery G was occupying a night defensive position at Fire Support Base Neville in Quang Tri Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of hostile mortar and rocket fire in conjunction with an attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force which succeeded in penetrating the friendly perimeter. Observing other Marines unable to rescue a wounded companion lying in a location dangerously exposed to the intense enemy fire, Private First Class Knight ignored the satchel charges and hand grenades detonating in the area and rushed across the fire-swept terrain to the aid of his comrade. Although seriously injured by the concussion of a satchel charge exploding nearby, he ignored his painful wounds and resolutely continuing his determined efforts, moved the casualty to a covered location. Returning to his original position, Private First Class Knight was delivering rapid suppressive fire at the North Vietnamese soldiers when he observed that a wounded comrade needed to be evacuated to a landing zone. Undaunted by the hostile rounds impacting throughout the area, he fearlessly carried the wounded man across 500 meters of the hazardous and exposed terrain to a landing zone for medical evacuation. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in the subsequent defeat of the North Vietnamese force. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Private First Class Knight undoubtedly saved the lives of two Marines and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.