The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class James L. Shear (MCSN: 2127305), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Third Force Reconnaissance Company, Third Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 4 August 1967, Private First Class Shear’s patrol, which was operating southeast of Con Thien, came under intense automatic weapons fire and grenade attack and was in danger of being overrun by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. A defensive perimeter was immediately established and supporting arms fire was requested, however due to the heavy jungle undergrowth, it was impossible to determine the effectiveness of the artillery fire. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Private First Class Shear, accompanied by a fellow Marine, unhesitatingly ran thirty meters across the fire-swept terrain on three separate occasions to a vantage point from which he could better observe and adjust the artillery fire. As a result of his bold initiative, a heavy volume of artillery fire was delivered against the enemy positions and the North Vietnamese soldiers were forced to withdraw. While the patrol maneuvered to a helicopter landing zone 100 meters away, Private First Class Shear accounted for two enemy confirmed and one probably killed. Arriving at the pickup site, the patrol once more came under heavy fire. Informed that a comrade had been wounded and was lying in an open area, he fearlessly moved through the hostile fire and assisted the casualty to a position of relative safety. Subsequently observing the evacuation helicopter approaching the landing zone and in of crashing into a tree, he again courageously exposed himself to the enemy fire and, skillfully utilizing a strobe light, directed the aircraft to a safe landing. His heroic and timely actions were an inspiration to all who observed him and contributed immeasurably to the successful extraction of his beleaguered patrol. By his inspiring courage presence of mind under fire and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Private First Class Shear upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.