The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Charles Ward Latting (MCSN: 0-77176), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company M, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 March 1966, during Operation UTAH, Captain Latting’s Company was engaged in an attack to relieve pressure on a Vietnamese battalion in Quang Ngai Province. One platoon of the Company was pursuing a small group of fleeing Viet Cong when it became heavily engaged by a larger enemy force entrenched in a well fortified hamlet and armed with automatic weapons. Captain Latting immediately maneuvered the remainder of his Company to support their attack. Moving forward with the assault platoon, he quickly realized that his Company was pitted against a deliberately prepared, mutually supporting defensive position, manned by a disciplined enemy force much larger than that which had been originally encountered. Completely disregarding his own safety, he unhesitatingly moved among his platoons, controlling the attack through a maze of bunkers, caves, connecting trenches and hedgerows. Although painfully wounded by the vicious mortar fire, he personally supervised the conduct of the attack for four hours, carefully ensuring that casualties were evacuated. His brilliant example of composure and courage served to inspire and motivate his men to maintain the attack until they were relieved by another unit. Under his exceptional leadership, the company penetrated the enemy position to a depth of 150 meters and killed fifty-nine North Vietnamese. By his extraordinary professional ability, valor in the face of devastating enemy fire and unswerving dedication to duty, Captain Latting upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.