The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Bruce J. Roark (MCSN: 2386093), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an 81-mm. Mortar Forward Observer with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 7 July 1968, Company L was operating outside its defensive perimeter on Hill 689 near the Khe Sanh Combat Base when the Marines came under a heavy volume of rocket and mortar fire from a North Vietnamese Army company occupying fortified emplacements. Realizing the need for immediate action, Lance Corporal Roark unhesitatingly left his position of relative safety and, utilizing hand grenades and his rifle, launched an aggressive assault against the enemy force, killing three North Vietnamese soldiers. Returning to his position, he obtained an M-79 grenade launcher, and observing a hostile hand grenade in flight toward the command post, he batted it away from his comrades with the butt end of the weapon. Although painfully wounded by fragments from the grenade, he disregarded his own safety and again attacked the enemy positions, killing two additional hostile soldiers before expending all of his grenades. Throwing aside the grenade launcher, he resolutely assaulted another enemy emplacement and, seizing the hostile soldier’s rifle, killed the man with his own bayonet and captured an enemy 60-mm. mortar. As Lance Corporal Roark was returning to the command post, he was wounded again by mortar fire, but continued his determined efforts by assisting in the evacuation of other casualties. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Roark upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.