The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Jack E. Simmons (MCSN: 0-91545), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine All Weather Attack Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-TWO (VMA(AW)-242), as a Bombardier/Navigator in the Republic of Vietnam. On 31 October 1967, Captain Simmons led a flight of two A-6 attack aircraft on a night interdiction mission against a vital highway and railroad bridge in North Vietnam. Despite the lack of radar significant checkpoints, he effectively utilized his aircraft’s complex navigational system to assist his pilot in flying through the darkness to arrive at the initial point of approach of the target area. Aware that his aircraft had come under hostile radar surveillance, he monitored his equipment and narrated information to the pilot to direct a high-speed, low-altitude flight in order to break the enemy’s radar lock on his aircraft and avoid anti-aircraft fire as he approached the bridge. Undaunted by one of the enemy’s most formidable air defense networks, he steadfastly manned his equipment and provided data that enabled the pilot to maintain the low-level approach to the target. Less than a minute from the ordnance release point, he warned the pilot of a missile launched against his aircraft and monitored his equipment to assist the pilot in taking evasive action that succeeded in eluding the missile. Then, at tree-top level, he rapidly computed and provided precise heading corrections and directed the pilot to climb to 500 feet where the ordnance was released with pinpoint accuracy on the target. Captain Simmons’ daring actions and total devotion to duty at grave personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.