The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Mackubin Owens, Jr. (MCSN: 0-105300), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company B, First Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 25 May 1969, Second Lieutenant Owens’ platoon was conducting a search and destroy operation north of Fire Support Base Russell in Quang Tri Province when the Marines came under a heavy volume of hand grenades and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army force occupying well-fortified emplacements. Completely disregarding his own safety, Second Lieutenant Owens unhesitatingly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain to a vantage point from which he could better pinpoint the hostile bunkers, and returning to his original position, moved from one Marine to another, shouting words of encouragement to his men and directing their suppressive fire upon the enemy. Fearlessly exposing himself to the intense North Vietnamese fire, he stood in full view of the hostile soldiers and threw hand grenades passed to him by his comrades. While thus engaged, he was seriously wounded but ignoring his painful injury, resolutely seized the rifle of a fallen Marine and provided covering fire as other men removed casualties to relatively secure locations. When fixed wing aircraft arrived overhead, Second Lieutenant Owens boldly approached to within twelve meters of the hostile fortifications and hurled a smoke grenade to mark the target. While directing his men to alternate positions to allow friendly air strikes to proceed, he skillfully coordinated supporting mortar and artillery fire upon the North Vietnamese bunkers and supervised the establishment of security for medical evacuation helicopters. His heroic and decisive actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Second Lieutenant Owens upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.