The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Michael E. Newman (MCSN: 0-107486), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company G, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 March 1969, during a search and destroy operation through the fortified village of Phu Nhuan in Quang Nam Province, the lead platoon sustained numerous casualties when it came under a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army company occupying well-concealed emplacements. With the second platoon momentarily pinned down, Second Lieutenant Newman fearlessly assumed the initiative and, continuing the attack, led his platoon into the village where they too encountered intense hostile fire. Reacting instantly, he initiated an aggressive assault against an enemy emplacement, enabling his men to capture a machine gun and silence the North Vietnamese Army fire from that bunker. Observing a major source of fire which had seriously wounded one of his Marines, Second Lieutenant Newman boldly exposed himself to impacting rounds as he threw two hand grenades into the fighting hole, then delivered rapid rifle fire, killing two North Vietnamese Army soldiers and capturing their automatic weapons. Early the following morning, the determined enemy force commenced an automatic weapons and anti-tank rocket fire attack upon the Marines. Witnessing one of his injured men fall in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, Second Lieutenant Newman unhesitatingly disregarded the enemy rounds impacting nearby as he raced across the hazardous terrain and pulled the casualty to a relatively safe location. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and saved the lives of two comrades. By his courage, aggressive initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Second Lieutenant Newman upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.