The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Mallery O. Nachtrieb (MCSN: 2335562), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company G, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 February 1969, Lance Corporal Nachtrieb’s platoon was assigned as a reaction force to assist another element of Company F that was heavily engaged with the enemy near DaNang. When the Marines reached the position of their beleaguered comrades, Lance Corporal Nachtrieb’s platoon was pinned down by intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a hostile force entrenched in old, concrete bunkers. Rapidly assessing the situation, Lance Corporal Nachtrieb fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain and, single-handed, destroyed three bunkers, killing the enemy soldiers inside. As his unit again began to move forward, the Marines came under a heavy volume of machine gun fire which wounded one man. With complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Nachtrieb rushed into the hazardous area and moved the casualty to a position of relative safety. Unhesitatingly exposing himself to enemy fire, he then assaulted a hostile machine gun position, killed the enemy soldiers, and captured the gun which he brought back to his unit. After participating in the final attack on the objective, his fire team was assigned as flank security during the return of the company perimeter. When the column came under sniper fire, Lance Corporal Nachtrieb boldly moved toward the snipers, directing his fire upon the enemy position. Despite being wounded by a hostile round, he steadfastly continued his aggressive efforts until he killed the snipers. Despite his painful injuries, he refused medical attention until all the other Marines were treated. By his courage, heroic actions and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Lance Corporal Nachtrieb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.