The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain James Morgan Nolan (MCSN: 0-73360), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 December 1965 during the latter stages of Operation HARVEST MOON, Captain Nolan’s Company was designated as advance guard to probe and ascertain the location of enemy positions near the hamlet of Ky Phu. Unhesitatingly Captain Nolan moved forward with leading elements, aggressively advancing over seven hundred meters of open fire-swept rice paddies. Reacting immediately, when enemy forces moved into his previous position and threatened the lightly armed Headquarters and Service Company, he quickly reversed is course and, with superior leadership, re-crossed the hazardous rice paddies. Fearlessly braving the savage hostile fire, he made a personal reconnaissance of Viet Cong positions, then skillfully deployed his platoons amid dense vegetation to effect a devastating crossfire against the heavily-fortified enemy emplacements. His strategy and initiative in the demanding situation relieved the pressure on the beleaguered element and permitted their movement to the relative safety of Captain Nolan’s lines. With invincible fighting spirit, he followed with a well coordinated and brilliantly executed counterattack, alertly detected groups of Viet Cong who were subsequently engaged at ranges of less than ten meters, and personally directed the reduction of two enemy bunkers. The overwhelming success of his determined effort was measured by a count of seventy-six enemy dead and the capture of numerous weapons. His prompt actions prevented further casualties to Marine units in the action. By his indomitable courage and inspiring leadership in the face of extreme peril, Captain Nolan upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.