The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Harold B. Schley, Jr. (MCSN: 2010910), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company A, Third Tank Battalion, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 28 July 1969, while Company A was occupying a night defensive position northwest of Cam Lo in Quang Tri Province, the Marines came under a vicious grenade attack by a North Vietnamese Army force utilizing hand and rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and automatic weapons. Observing that the company commander had been mortally wounded during the initial moments of the engagement, Staff Sergeant Schley unhesitatingly rose from his relatively secure position within his tank and, ignoring the enemy rounds impacting around him, fearlessly pulled his commander into the turret. Although seriously wounded by a hostile rocket-propelled grenade round which penetrated the turret, Staff Sergeant Schley resolutely loaded and fired his tanks’ 90-mm. gun at the advancing enemy soldiers and despite suffering intense pain from an additional wound, relentlessly continued to defend his position until the assault was repulsed. Steadfastly refusing medical attention, he then moved from one tank to another guiding wounded Marines to an aid station and directing Corpsmen to the sides of the more critical casualties. Alertly observing that a grass fire, started during the battle, now threatened to engulf a nearby tank in flames, Staff Sergeant Schley unhesitatingly rushed to the vehicle and drove it to a position of relative safety. Not until he had subsequently reorganized the defense of his sector of the perimeter and assured himself that all other casualties had been cared for would he allow medical personnel to treat his wounds. His heroic and determined actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the defeat of the determined enemy unit. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Staff Sergeant Schley upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.