The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Jerry Wallace Simon (MCSN: 2012697), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Assistant Machine Gunner with Company A, First Battalion, Ninth Marines, in connection with military operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 21 May 1966, Lance Corporal Simon’s platoon participated in a helilift to a position to block the withdrawal of a large Viet Cong force operating in the area. When the helicopters landed in an open rice paddy, the area was immediately subjected to intense mortar and automatic weapons fire from Viet Cong positioned on all sides of the landing zone. More than twenty Marine casualties were inflicted in the first few minutes of the savage action. As the Marines proceeded to deliver return fire, Lance Corporal Simon repeatedly responded to requests for additional ammunition, racing into the open, fire torn area to retrieve supplies from the casualties. When his machine gun leader was seriously wounded, Lance Corporal Simon courageously braved the withering fire to administer first aid and assist in evacuating the stricken man. At one point in the firefight, the platoon’s battalion tactical net radio operator fell wounded in a hazardous position. Without regard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Simon hurried to the man’s side, assisted the Corpsman in providing medical treatment and returned the vital radio equipment to a position of relative safety. Throughout the savage action, he repeatedly subjected himself to enemy fire to help keep his team’s machine gun firing and assist Marines near his position in every way possible. His resolute effort contributed in large measure to preventing the Viet Cong from overrunning the tenuous position and enabled reinforcing units to trap the Viet Cong force. Fifty-three of the enemy were killed in the engagement and seventeen weapons were captured. By his extraordinary courage in the face of enemy fire, bold initiative and unfaltering dedication to duty throughout, Lance Corporal Simon upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.