The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Eugenio Pacheco (MCSN: 2256528), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Team Leader with Company F, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 21 September 1967, during a search and destroy mission conducted in conjunction with Operation Kingfisher in Quang Tri Province, Corporal Pacheco’s platoon came under intense fire from a large North Vietnamese Army force and sustained numerous casualties in the initial burst of fire. Reacting instantly, Corporal Pacheco commenced delivering an accurate volume of suppressive fire upon the enemy emplacements in an attempt to gain fire superiority and thereby enable his unit to maneuver forward. Disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself to the heavy volume of hostile fire in order to gain maximum effectiveness from his weapon. Subsequently, he sustained a serious fragmentation wound in the face, resulting in the loss of one of his eyes, however he continued to deliver accurate machine gun fire until he was forced to relinquish his weapon due to the effects of his wound. Despite the extreme painfulness of his injury, he resolutely directed the fire of his machine gun team to ensure that his assigned sector of the under-manned company lines was provided with effective supporting fires. His heroic actions and aggressive fighting spirit inspired all who observed him and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, unfaltering determination and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal Pacheco upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.