The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Patrick Roy Felix Kauka Melim (MCSN: 1854914), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company C, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 May 1967, during Operations Union II, Sergeant Melim was leading a reconnaissance patrol deep in enemy territory near DaNang when they were ambushed by a numerically superior Viet Cong force. Quickly assessing the situation, he immediately established his men in a defensive position and directed suppressive fire against the Viet Cong. When the intensity of enemy fir increased, he requested air support and, upon the arrival of fixed wing aircraft over the area, calmly and skillfully directed their bombing and strafing runs. Observing the enemy moving closer to the perimeter in order to evade the air attack, Sergeant Melim courageously directed the aircraft to deliver their 250 and 500 pound bombs within fifty meters of his position and, as a result, the Viet Cong were temporarily forced to withdraw. Throughout the next three hours, the hostile force persistently made probing small arms and grenade attacks against the beleaguered unit. Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds in the hand when an enemy grenade exploded nearby, Sergeant Melim steadfastly continued to direct his unit’s fire and boldly called in artillery fire support on the suspected enemy positions within seventy-five meters of his patrol. After the arrival of the gunship and evacuation helicopters, the patrol again came under automatic weapons fire while attempting to reach the landing zone. The point man was seriously wounded and the unit was forced to withdraw to its original defensive positions. In response to a request from the gunships, Sergeant Melim unhesitatingly moved from cover to fire a smoke grenade to mark the enemy position, however, the launcher misfired. Disregarding his own safety, he steadfastly remained in the exposed area, corrected the malfunction and then fired directly into the enemy emplacement. With the gunships providing covering fire, he successfully led his men by fire and maneuver to the landing zone, and while waiting for the evacuation aircraft to land, moved a wounded Marine to a covered position thereby preventing further injury to the casualty. When the helicopter landed, Sergeant Melim provided effective covering fire for the patrol members and, the aircraft. His presence of mind under fire and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades were an inspiration to all who observed him and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, inspiring leadership and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Sergeant Melim upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.