The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain David Emanuel Marks (MCSN: 0-283493), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in action against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 February 1966, Company F, as an element of Task Unit HOTEL, was engaged in search and destroy operations in Thua Thien Province when it was subjected to heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire from a battalion size Viet Cong force that was firmly entrenched in heavily camouflaged positions along a tree line. With great presence of mind, Captain Marks immediately moved to the center of his Company, having three platoons on line with squads on line at that time. Under cover of supporting artillery fire and close air support strikes, he personally directed the assault upon the trench line. Completely disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to the vicious hostile fire to supervise the maneuver of his command. When the first two assaults failed to reach the Viet Cong position due to the heavy volume of incoming fire, he courageously led his company across an open field in a third assault which successfully carried the position. Moving among the units of his company throughout the engagement, he demonstrated courage and inspiring leadership which motivated his men to pursue the attack with renewed confidence and energy. As a direct result of his daring effort, the enemy positions were overrun and more than sixty Viet Cong were killed. By his intrepid fighting spirit, extraordinary leadership and selfless dedication to duty, Captain Marks upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.