The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Norman Francis Kurtz (MCSN: 2389260), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as a Squad Leader with Company D, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 20 December 1967, Corporal Kurtz’s squad was occupying an ambush site near Happy Valley in Quang Nam Province. Observing a Viet Cong force approaching his unit’s position, Corporal Kurtz initiated the ambush and directed a heavy volume of accurate fire which inflicted several casualties on the Viet Cong. When the enemy force broke contact and retreated, he consolidated his squad with a reaction force and unhesitatingly led his men in pursuit of the fleeing enemy soldiers. Suddenly, the Marines came under intense small arms, automatic weapons and grenade launcher fire from well concealed hostile positions. Reacting instantly, Corporal Kurtz skillfully deployed his men and, with complete disregard for his own safety, led an aggressive assault against the hostile positions. Although wounded in the back, he ignored his painful injury and continued to advance across the hazardous terrain, directing his men and delivering effective M-79 Grenade Launcher fire until he was wounded in the leg by small arms fire. Despite his serious wounds, he assumed a firing position and utilized his grenade launcher to deliver suppressive fire until he was moved to a position of relative safety from which he shouted words of encouragement to his men, assisted his platoon commander in maintaining radio communications and then was medically evacuated. His aggressive fighting spirit and resolute determination in the face of grave personal danger were an inspiration to all who observed him and were instrumental in the defeat of a numerically superior enemy force. By his steadfast courage, superb leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty, Corporal Kurtz contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.