The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain Phillip Torrey (MCSN: 0-85190), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, First Battalion, Fifth Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 June 1969, Captain Torrey was directed to seize a hill near An Bang which was occupied by an estimated North Vietnamese Army Battalion occupying heavily-fortified emplacements. Although repeated, intense artillery barrages had not significantly reduced enemy fire from the position, Captain Torrey realized the importance of taking the vital terrain without delay. After skillfully deploying two platoons in an enveloping movement, he fearlessly initiated an aggressive assault upon the North Vietnamese stronghold with his third platoon. Repeatedly exposing himself to the hostile rounds impacting about him, he moved from one Marine position to another, exhorting his men to greater efforts and directing their fire against individual targets. As he relentlessly led his men toward the objective, the momentum of their attack completely disorganized the defenders, enabling the Marines to overrun the fortifications and establish a defensive perimeter. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his company’s accounting for seventy-five soldiers killed in addition to the seizure of vast amounts of weapons and equipment with only minimal Marine casualties. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Captain Torrey contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s missions and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.