The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Michael Milton Rowe (MCSN: 2064981), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving with Company B, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), Fleet Marine Force, Pacific during Operation PIRANHA at Ba Hang Na Peninsula, Republic of Vietnam. On 8 September 1965, Lance Corporal Rowe’s platoon discovered a large tunnel occupied by insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces. With complete disregard for his own safety, he fearlessly descended into the tunnel with three others to engage the Viet Cong within. In the ensuing fire fight, Lance Corporal Rowe killed one Viet Cong and wounded two others. After extracting the two wounded enemy, he descended into the tunnel for a second time, determined to remove the body of the dead guerrilla. As he fired his weapon and led the others in driving the enemy back from the body in the narrow and dark confines of the cavern, Lance Corporal Rowe heard the sounds of a hand grenade being primed. With exceptional presence of mind in the face of extreme danger, he directed his team back to a safe part of the tunnel. As a result of his immediate actions, the exploding grenade failed to cause any injury to his fellow Marines. When a team of engineers received orders to destroy the cavern with demolition charges, Lance Corporal Rowe led the way, guiding the engineers to the best location for setting the charges and providing cover for them. After the charge was set, he covered the withdrawal from the cave by walking backwards and firing into the cave. His exceptional aggressiveness and composure under fire contributed significantly to the eventual destruction of what was later to be revealed as a major Viet Cong installation and the death of sixty-seven Viet Cong troops. By his courageous actions and inspiring devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Rowe upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.