The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Wilkes R. Morgan (MCSN: 0-102885), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Air Support Control Officer, Detachment ONE, Marine Air Support Squadron THREE, Marine Air Control Group Eighteen, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the pre-dawn hours of 23 February 1969, the air support radar team’s position on Hill 220 near DaNang came under intense rocket-propelled grenade and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army sapper unit which had penetrated the perimeter defenses and was attacking the operations bunker. Quickly organizing a base of fire, First Lieutenant Morgan unhesitatingly led an assault across the fire-swept terrain and drove the enemy from the bunker, thereby allowing one seriously wounded Marine to be medically evacuated. Realizing that the North Vietnamese still controlled the area around the antenna, he led an assault element, on three occasions, against the enemy hilltop emplacement, completely disregarding his own safety as he seemingly ignored the intense fire impacting around him. After directing helicopter gunship strikes on the hostile positions, he then fearlessly led a final attack which succeeded in expelling the enemy from the perimeter. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty at great personal risk, First Lieutenant Morgan upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.