The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Francis L. Shafer, Jr. (MCSN: 0-83900), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer, Company D, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 7 November 1967, while on a search and destroy mission west of Con Thien, Captain Shafer’s company came under intense small -arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire from an enemy force of unknown size entrenched in a series of hedgerows. Disregarding his own safety, Captain Shafer fearlessly exposed himself to the enemy fire to maneuver his platoons and locate the hostile positions. When one of his fire teams became pinned down by heavy small arms fire, halting the company’s advance, he unhesitatingly moved forward and, armed only with a pistol and grenades, assaulted the hostile position, killing at least one enemy soldier and silencing the fire. Immediately, the company’s forward element came under intense automatic weapons fire and sustained three casualties. Undaunted, Captain Shafer moved through a hedgerow, crossed twenty meters of open terrain and assaulted the position, destroying the enemy automatic weapons. Then skillfully deploying his forward squads around the other hostile positions, he suppressed the enemy fire while he directed the evacuation of his casualties and moved his company into position to secure the area. Subsequently, when his company made contact with an estimated two companies of North Vietnamese Army troops, Captain Shafer skillfully deployed his units to a more advantageous position under the cover of supporting artillery fire. As a result of his keen tactical judgment, his company was instrumental in inflicting a number of casualties on the North Vietnamese while sustaining minimum friendly casualties. His exceptional leadership and indomitable fighting spirit inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Captain Shafer upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.