The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Sergeant Wayne John Spare (MCSN: 2312160), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company M, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 13 February 1968, Sergeant Spare was leading a squad size combat patrol in Quang Nam Province when the Marines suddenly came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior enemy force and sustained several casualties. Reacting instantly, Sergeant Spare quickly maneuvered his men into a defensive position and began directing the deliver of suppressive fire upon the hostile force. Alertly observing two wounded Marines lying in an area dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, he unhesitatingly ran across the fire-swept terrain and carried one of the injured men to a covered position. Disregarding his own safety, he immediately returned to the hazardous area and, while assisting the second casualty to a position of relative safety, was mortally wounded. By his courage, bold initiative and sincere concern for his fellow Marines, Sergeant Spare upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.