The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Daniel L. Lanham (MCSN: 2379976), United States Marine Corps, for gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 29 August 1968, while his platoon was conducting a search and destroy operation near An Hoa in Quang Nam Province, Lance Corporal Lanham was wounded when the Marines came under a heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire. Realizing that his platoon commander had been mortally wounded, Lance Corporal Lanham disregarded his own painful injuries and unhesitatingly took charge of the forward element of the unit. Shouting words of encouragement to his men, he commenced directing suppressive fire against the hostile force and maneuvered across the fire-swept area and obtained a radio from a casualty. Boldly remaining in a position dangerously exposed to the intense enemy fire, he skillfully adjusted artillery fire and air strikes and controlled the attack of armed helicopters against the hostile emplacements. Continuing to ignore his painful injuries, he commenced directing the withdrawal of his men to more tenable positions. Observing an injured Marine lying in an open area, Lance Corporal Lanham fearlessly disregarded the intense enemy fire as he rushed across the hazardous terrain and carried his wounded comrade to a location of relative safety. His heroic actions and calm presence of mind inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the life of a fellow Marine. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Lanham upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.