The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Jimmy Ellison Tolliver (MCSN: 1813850), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Marine Observation Squadron SIX (VMO-6), Marine Aircraft Group Thirty-Six (MAG-36), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 16 February 1968, Staff Sergeant Tolliver launched as Aerial Gunner aboard an armed UH-1E helicopter diverted to support the emergency extraction of an eight-man reconnaissance team which was heavily engaged with a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force six miles northwest of Dong Ha. Arriving over the designated area, he expertly directed a heavy volume of machine gun fire on the enemy positions during repeated strafing runs in support of the extraction aircraft. Although five Marines had been extracted, subsequent attempts to rescue the remaining men had failed due to a heavy volume of ground fire which had seriously damaged three helicopters. When his pilot volunteered to evacuate the surrounded men and made an approach to the hazardous area, the aircraft was damaged by hostile fire and forced to abort the approach. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, he again provided a heavy volume of machine gun fire during his helicopter’s second attempt and, after landing, continued to deliver covering fire, enabling the three Marines to embark. Lifting from the fire-swept site, his aircraft was struck by a burst of enemy fire and crashed, mortally wounding Staff Sergeant Tolliver. By his courage, intrepid fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty, Staff Sergeant Tolliver upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.