The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Charles L. Lowder (MCSN: 0-107449), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Patrol Leader with First Force Reconnaissance Company, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 10 August 1969, First Lieutenant Lowder engaged in a long-range reconnaissance patrol assigned the mission of apprehending a prisoner southwest of DaNang. Deploying his men in concealed positions along a well-used enemy road, he moved to within a few feet of the route in order to observe the flow of traffic. When six North Vietnamese Army soldiers approached the Marine position, Lieutenant Lowder, with complete disregard for his own safety, boldly stepped directly in front of the enemy and demanded their surrender. The enemy immediately responded by firing their weapons at the Marines and attempting to escape, but Lieutenant Lowder killed the lead enemy soldier and the Marines covering the enemy from the rear killed two more as they attempted to run back up the trail. Observing five more hostile soldiers maneuvering along the trail toward his position to provide relief for their trapped comrades, he again stood in full view of the enemy as he delivered accurate fire upon the advancing force, thereby protecting a companion who was overpowering a prisoner in hand to hand combat and then helped carry the desperately struggling prisoner to a covered position. After assisting to coordinate air strikes on other hostile soldiers in the immediate vicinity, he requested extraction aircraft for the patrol and the prisoner. His heroic and determined efforts inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in killing four North Vietnamese Army soldiers, injuring several others and in capturing one prisoner. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, First Lieutenant Lowder contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s assigned mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.