The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant John A. Sleeper (MCSN: 2249559), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company C, First Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 January 1968, Sergeant Sleeper was Patrol Leader of a twelve-man long range reconnaissance team assigned a reconnaissance and surveillance mission in the mountainous area of the Phu Loc District in an attempt to capture hostile weapons and an enemy prisoner. Exhibiting exceptional professional ability, he maneuvered his patrol through enemy controlled territory to establish a combination harbor site and rally point. Then, moving with three of his men to a point overlooking a well used trail, he established an ambush, employing two claymore mines approximately 150 feet apart on the trail and deploying his men into effective positions where cross-fire could cover the area between the mines. After nearly three hours of waiting, an estimated company-size North Vietnamese Army force carrying unassembled .50 caliber machine guns and rocket launcher tubes was observed approaching the ambush site. Exhibiting outstanding tactical skill and calm presence of mind, Sergeant Sleeper allowed the four-man enemy point to pass the forward claymore mine before detonating it, killing ten North Vietnamese soldiers and destroying numerous weapons and items of equipment. Immediately directing fire against the lead elements, he succeeded in killing the four point men. Delaying briefly to allow the rear portion of the enemy column to move forward, he then detonated the rear mine, causing additional casualties and confusion among the North Vietnamese. In an effort to capture a prisoner of enemy weapons, he quickly moved toward the trail but was halted by extremely heavy hostile small arms fire. Upon observing more enemy troops moving forward, Sergeant Sleeper decided that further action at the ambush site would endanger his small group. Skillfully utilizing hand grenades and covering fire, he maneuvered his men out of the hazardous area and moved them back to the rally point. Demonstrating an extensive knowledge of the tactical employment of supporting arms, Staff Sergeant Sleeper immediately requested fixed wing aircraft and armed helicopter gunship strikes against the enemy, directing their attacks along the trail and other suspected enemy positions around his perimeter. When darkness fell, he directed flare ships in illuminating the area and gunships in attacks against hostile soldiers crawling to within grenade throwing distance of the team’s position. Subsequently calling for artillery support, he accurately adjusted fire to within twenty-five meters of his position, successfully repulsing the North Vietnamese attacks. Realizing that his position was untenable against the numerically superior enemy force, he led his men over 1,000 meters through the darkness and over hazardous jungle terrain to a landing zone where a helicopter extracted the reconnaissance team. In large measure due to his bold initiative and outstanding professional skill, he undoubtedly thwarted the attempt of a large North Vietnamese force to attack a Marine unit in the Phu Loc area and accounted for twenty enemy confirmed killed and the destruction of several heavy weapons without sustaining a single friendly casualty. By his superior leadership, steadfast courage and unfaltering devotion to duty, Sergeant Sleeper upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.