The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Roy W. Matheny (MCSN: 2356155), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company L, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 15 June 1968, while occupying a defensive position near Phoui Nhoui in Quang Tri Province, Company L suddenly came under intense artillery, mortar and small arms fire supporting a determined ground assault by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. During the ensuing fire fight, the advancing enemy soldiers penetrated the defensive perimeter and wounded numerous Marines. Directed to assist in establishing contact with a besieged forward element, Lance Corporal Matheny immediately deployed his men and as he led them into the hazardous area, the Marines were pinned down by a heavy volume of hostile fire while delivering accurate grenade launcher fire which destroyed one hostile position and killed a North Vietnamese soldier. Alertly observing an enemy machine gun emplacement, he seized a captured weapon and launched an aggressive attack upon the hostile position. Fearlessly maneuvering across the fire-swept terrain, he ignored the enemy rounds impacting near him as he hurled grenades and delivered intense fire into the emplacement, destroying the position and killing four additional North Vietnamese soldiers. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his unit routing the enemy force. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Lance Corporal Matheny upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.