The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Robert J. Squires (MCSN: 0-88986), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company K, 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. In the early morning hours of 23 August 1968, Company K and elements of the Thirty-Ninth Army of the Republic of Vietnam Ranger Battalion were occupying a defensive position in Quang Nam Province when the friendly units were suddenly assaulted by a large enemy force which succeeded ion seizing a critical road junction leading into the DaNang Air Base. When contact with the ranger unit was lost, Captain Squires skillfully maneuvered a platoon through intense enemy automatic weapons fire and ejected the hostile soldiers from the vital position, thereby regaining contact with the Vietnamese unit. After reinforcements arrived, he aggressively led his men to assist friendly forces that were heavily engaged with the enemy on the Cam Le Bridge along National Route One. Disregarding his own safety, he fearlessly ignored the hostile rounds impacting near him while shouting words of encouragement to his men and directing their fire, forcing the hostile soldiers to flee in panic and confusion. Continuing his determined efforts, he then directed his company in assaulting well concealed and heavily fortified enemy positions in a nearby village, again defeating the hostile force and preventing the enemy from executing a well organized plan for entering the DaNang Vital Area. His bold initiative and resolute determination inspired all who served with him and were instrumental in his company accounting for over 200 hostile soldiers killed. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Captain Squires contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.