The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Donald M. Lambrecht (MCSN: 1931632), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company L, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 25 September 1966. During Operation Prairie, Sergeant Lambrecht was with the point squad as it lead the Battalion march column along a narrow jungle trail. Suddenly, from a well concealed position twenty-five meters to their front, North Vietnamese forces began firing on the point element with automatic weapons. Quickly, the squad dispersed as Sergeant Lambrecht directed them to effective firing positions. With complete disregard for his own safety, he crawled forward under intense automatic weapons fire to pinpoint the enemy and effectively deliver hand grenades on their positions. Stealth fully, he maneuvered to within ten meters of the North Vietnamese position where he exposed himself to hostile fire in order to throw three hand grenades which routed the enemy. He then proceeded up the trail with the point squad and was again taken under enemy automatic weapons fire which killed the point man. An immediate attempt to recover the dead Marine was unsuccessful because of the rugged terrain and the heavy volume of enemy fire. In a second attempt to retrieve the body, Sergeant Lambrecht reorganized the squad and led ten Marines back up the trail where they again received heavy fire, seriously wounding the lead man. Realizing the casualty’s need for medical attention, Sergeant Lambrecht courageously exposed himself in order to direct covering fire on the enemy position, facilitating the evacuation of the wounded man to a safe area. When it became apparent that artillery fire was required to destroy the enemy positions, a fire mission was requested. Disregarding the warning to move to a safer position during the artillery strike, Sergeant Lambrecht remained behind to ensure that all his men had reached secure areas. Without assistance, he delivered effective automatic weapons fire on the enemy, pinning them down until artillery fire destroyed their positions. Although all attempts to recover the body of his fallen comrade were unsuccessful, the point squad, under Sergeant Lambrecht’s gallant and stubborn leadership, succeeded in rescuing the wounded Marine and destroying the enemy. In addition, as a result of his fearless determination and outstanding initiative, he destroyed one enemy position without assistance. By his courage, exceptional leadership, initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Sergeant Lambrecht upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.