The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” to Lieutenant Colonel John W. P. Robertson (MCSN: 0-60509), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of the Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with military operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam from 3 August 1968 to 2 March 1969, and as Assistant G-3, Headquarters, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade on Okinawa from 3 March to 30 July 1969. During these periods, Lieutenant Colonel Robertson performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. In his initial assignment, he deployed his Battalion over a wide area in the Que Son Mountains of Quang Nam Province and participated in a series of combat operations, including Operations HOUSTON and MEADE RIVER, which significantly reduced the enemy’s combat capability and material assets. Moving from one forward area to another, he aggressively directed his companies in pursuit of the enemy and disregarded his own safety to coordinate the delivery of concentrated firepower on hostile targets. Under his dynamic and courageous leadership, his Battalion inflicted severe casualties on numerically superior North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces, captured large quantities of supplies and equipment, and blocked persistent attempts by the enemy to interdict friendly supply routes. On one occasion, during Operation MEADE RIVER, Lieutenant Colonel Robertson led his Battalion against a North Vietnamese Army stronghold and, in the ensuing intense fire fight destroyed the enemy’s defenses, killing more than three hundred North Vietnamese soldiers and capturing forty others. Reassigned as Assistant G-3, Headquarters, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade/Task Force Seventy-Nine on Okinawa on 3 March 1969, Lieutenant Colonel Robertson ably directed various facets of operational planning and was instrumental in the superb readiness posture of the Brigade’s widely dispersed air and ground units. In addition, he managed the exacting task of preparing operation orders and contingency plans for combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam and for combined amphibious training exercises in the Western Pacific area. On numerous occasions, he visited the combat zone and displayed remarkable acuity in resolving operational problems engendered by changes in command relationships and the Vietnamization Program. His extraordinary initiative and determination earned the respect and admiration of all who served with him and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of the missions of his respective commands. By his leadership, professional acumen, and unwavering devotion to duty Lieutenant Colonel Robertson rendered distinguished service to his country and thereby upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. (Lieutenant Colonel Robertson is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.)