The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Paul Davis Slack (MCSN: 0-67841), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the Advisor to the Third Battalion, Vietnamese Marine Brigade, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces on 7 February 1966 near Cholon, Capital Military Region (Saigon), Republic of Vietnam. While accompanying the Fourth Company of the Third Battalion in a search and destroy operation, Captain Slack directed and adjusted both artillery fire and air strikes on a Viet Cong force estimated at two platoon size in well entrenched emplacements. The supporting arms were directed against the enemy by Captain Slack from positions as close as 75 meters from the enemy lines; during which time Captain Slack was continually exposed to direct and accurate rifle and machine gun fire as he marked his own lines with smoke and moved to points of observation where he could better identify targets and direct fire upon them. When his assistant advisor was seriously wounded about 100 meters from his position, Captain Slack unhesitatingly and without regard for the enemy fire directed at him, moved through an open rice paddy to go to the assistance of a wounded advisor. As he moved, Captain Slack contacted a helicopter gunship and coordinated the rescue attempt under the cover of an air strike by an accompanying helicopter. The evacuation successfully completed, Captain Slack returned through the enemy fire to his position and then led a bayonet assault against the enemy positions, resulting in a withdrawal of the enemy. His skillful conduct in a battle which lasted over a nine-hour period, his coordination, direction, and adjustment of air strikes and artillery marked him as a professional Marine. His unselfish act in moving through an open rice paddy under direct fire of enemy machine guns and automatic weapons without regard for his personal safety won him the respect and admiration of his Vietnamese counterparts. Further, his guidance of the rescue helicopter into the battle area while standing exposed in an open rice field was an act of great personal courage and reflected great credit upon him and the advisory effort in Vietnam. His acts were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.