The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Chester Aubrey Mollett (MCSN: 2356833268), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company F, Second Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 7 August 1969, during Operation IDAHO CANYON, Sergeant Mollett was moving with his platoon up a heavily-wooded hill northwest of the Vandegrift Combat Base when the Marines came under an extremely heavy volume of rocket propelled grenade, small arms, and automatic weapons fire from a company-sized North Vietnamese Army force occupying a well-concealed bunker complex. With complete disregard for his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he rapidly deployed his men and then fearlessly moved across the fire-swept terrain to each man’s position to ensure that maximum fire was being delivered at the enemy. When he observed one of his wounded comrades lying in a dangerously exposed position, Sergeant Mollett unhesitatingly crawled across the hazardous area to the fallen Marine, pulled him to a covered position, and then administered first aid. After pinpointing a North Vietnamese machine gun which was pinning his platoon down and thereby preventing its advance, he crawled up the hillside hurling hand grenades until he reached the crest of the hill. Braving the enemy fire, he then single-handedly assaulted the machine gun position, killing the two occupants and destroying the weapon. His valiant leadership and aggressive fighting spirit inspired all who observed him and enabled his unit to secure its objective. By his dauntless courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Sergeant Mollett upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.