The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Sergeant Clifford Dow Mooney (MCSN: 1045500), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the First Sergeant of Company C, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 16 March 1967, First Sergeant Mooney was attending a meeting of the Battalion Officers and Staff Noncommissioned Officers. He was standing in the doorway of the meeting place and happened to glance toward the tactical wire where he saw the arc of a thrown fragmentation grenade coming toward the assembled Marines. First Sergeant Mooney immediately shouted a warning to the other members and then unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own safety, picked up the grenade and threw it back over the fence. Steadfastly refusing to take cover, he courageously moved to a position closer to the fence to observe any further movements by the enemy. As a result of this daring action, he was wounded in the face by fragments from the exploding grenade. His selfless actions undoubtedly saved the lives of his fellow Marines. By his extreme courage, exceptional presence of mind in the face of grave personal danger and selfless devotion to duty, First Sergeant Mooney upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.