The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant Edward Albert Taber, III (MCSN: 0-91789), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Executive Officer of Company A, Third Amphibian Tractor Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 18 June 1967, during Operation ARIZONA, First Lieutenant Taber led a column of five amphibian tractors on a mission in support of a Marine infantry company conducting a search and destroy operation in the village of Phu Long (1) in Quang Nam Province. When the company came under intense enemy automatic weapons and recoilless rifle fire and was temporarily pinned down, First Lieutenant Taber unhesitatingly directed his amphibian vehicles to an adjacent hill from which he could deliver a heavy volume of fire at enemy positions in tree lines surrounding the village. As the Marine unit proceeded up the hill, it came under heavy automatic weapons fire from an enemy squad entrenched on the crest of the hill. Although temporarily stunned when his rifle was knocked from his hands by enemy fire, First Lieutenant Taber quickly rallied his men and directed an assault against the enemy emplacements. With complete disregard for his own safety, he fearlessly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to direct and encourage his men and throw hand grenades into the enemy positions. Skillfully positioning two of his amphibian tractors on line, First Lieutenant Taber boldly attacked the automatic weapons emplacements, crushing the trenchline and cave system and forcing the Viet Cong to break contact and flee in panic and disorder. Even though he was knocked to his knees when a heavy volume of enemy fire struck the hatch of his vehicle, he continued to maneuver his vehicles through the Viet Cong positions in pursuit of the escaping enemy. As the Viet Cong fled into an open rice paddy, the Marines killed four, retrieving two enemy dead along with their weapons. Returning to the hill top, First Lieutenant Taber quickly repositioned his vehicles and directed accurate fire into the village below, enabling the beleaguered Marine unit to regroup and launch an assault against the entrenched enemy. His courageous fighting spirit and exceptional professional skill were instrumental in saving the lives of numerous Marines and contributed significantly to the defeat of the enemy. By his aggressive leadership, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Taber upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.