The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Private First Class Roosevelt Tolbert, Jr. (MCSN: 2386324), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Grenadier with Company C, First Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 8 December 1968, Company C was conducting a search and destroy operation near the village of Da Hoa An (2) in Quang Nam Province when the Marines came under intense machine gun and grenade launcher fire from a well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army platoon. Fearlessly participating in an assault on the enemy emplacements, Private First Class Tolbert delivered a heavy volume of grenade launcher fire against the enemy. Observing a wounded companion lying in an open area, he obtained a machine gun from an injured Marine and maneuvered to a position from which he could deliver accurate fire on the hostile force, enabling his comrades to evacuate the injured man. Depleting his supply of machine gun ammunition, he again commenced firing his M-79 grenade launcher until its ammunition was also expended. Realizing that additional covering fire was needed to ensure the extraction of all the casualties, and that the momentum of the attack must not be permitted to slacken, he remained in his dangerously exposed position and delivered covering fire with a wounded Marine’s M-16 rifle. As the engagement continued throughout the evening, he personally rushed across fire-swept terrain on several occasions in order to assist injured comrades to relatively safe areas and assumed the duties of Radio Operator when that Marine was seriously wounded. As a result of his heroic and timely actions, he earned the respect and admiration of all who observed him and was instrumental in saving several Marines from further injury or possible death. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Private First Class Tolbert upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.