The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Gerard Benedict Schneider (MCSN: 2365027), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 10 September 1968, Corporal Schneider’s patrol was withdrawing to a friendly position after a heavy engagement with a numerically superior enemy force near Dai Loc in Quang Nam Province. As the Marines maneuvered across a river, they came under intense hostile small arms, rocket and grenade launcher fire which wounded several men, including a machine gunner and Corporal Schneider. Ignoring his painful injury, Corporal Schneider unhesitatingly rushed across the fire-swept terrain and, seizing the weapon of the wounded machine gunner, fearlessly advanced toward the enemy force. Reaching an advantageous position, he resolutely remained exposed to the hostile fire while delivering a heavy volume of suppressive fire against the enemy, enabling his companions to move to a relatively safe area. Disregarding his own safety, he continued to effectively employ his weapon against the hostile soldiers until expending all his ammunition. By his courage, bold initiative and unfaltering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Corporal Schneider upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.