The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Marvin T. Runyon, III (MCSN: 0-107524), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 23 February 1969, Battery H, Third Battalion, Eleventh Marines’ perimeter was breached by a platoon-sized North Vietnamese Army sapper unit utilizing satchel charges, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenades. Realizing that the enemy was within the battery positions, Second Lieutenant Runyon, charged with the security of the battery’s sector of the perimeter, fearlessly led his platoon into the hazardous area and commenced battling the hostile soldiers. Completely disregarding his own safety, he personally led an assault which routed the enemy from a bunker which the North Vietnamese had captured. While conferring with the battery commanding officer, the unit’s command post came under an intense hand grenade attack and Second Lieutenant Runyon countered this attack utilizing his pistol and several grenades obtained from a wounded Marine. As a result of his heroic and timely actions, the enemy force was repulsed and the friendly perimeter was re-established with twenty-one hostile soldiers killed and one captured. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Second Lieutenant Runyon inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.