The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Robert O’Bannon, III (MCSN: 2002103), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Guide, Battalion Landing Team, 2d Platoon, Company E, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 13 March 1968. While engaged in the recovery of Marines killed in action in the village of Lam Xuan the previous day, the Platoon began to receive heavy machine gun and small arms fire from a concealed North Vietnamese Army force which wounded several Marines located in a trench in front of the Platoon’s defensive position. Although the enemy was located in a tree line approximately 30 to 40 feet from the Platoon’s defensive position, Sergeant O’Bannon fearlessly stood up exposing himself to intense enemy fire while providing suppressive fire so that a Hospital Corpsman could reach and threat a wounded Marine located in the trench. With total disregard for his own safety, he continued to expose himself to the enemy fire in order to provide covering fire for the Hospital Corpsman while he treated the wounded Marine. Under a hail of machine gun and rifle fire, and rocket propelled grenades, he dashed across the fire swept area to assist the Hospital Corpsman in carrying the wounded Marine to an area of relative safety. Sergeant O’Bannon’s courageous actions, unselfishness, and unwavering devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Service.