The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major David Thomas Sites (MCSN: 0-79417), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron THREE HUNDRED ELEVEN (VMA-311), Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 9 October 1968, Major Sites launched as Section Leader of a flight of two A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to support the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, which was heavily engaged with a large enemy force east of Thuong Duc in Quang Nam Province. Arriving over the designated area despite darkness and inclement weather, the flight was informed by the Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) that an approach would have to be made from the west to preclude executing bombing runs over friendly positions and to take advantage of a break in the otherwise dense cloud cover. Skillfully maneuvering his Skyhawk through the dangerous mountain terrain, Major Sites immediately came under a heavy volume of hostile fire. Fearlessly continuing his determined attack on the enemy positions, he released his ordnance with pinpoint accuracy on the target. His superior airmanship and precise ordnance delivery severely crippled the enemy’s capability to launch an assault on the friendly unit and resulted in two large secondary explosions which effectively marked the target for subsequent flights of tactical aircraft. Major Sites’ courage, superb aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.