The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant David James Turner (MCSN: 0-103854), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as the Executive Officer of Battery D, Second Battalion, Eleventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 19 March 1969, Battery D’s fire base at Liberty Bridge cantonment in Quang Nam Province came under intense rocket and mortar fire supporting an assault by a large enemy force employing small arms and hand grenades. During the initial moments of the attack, First Lieutenant Turner disregarded his own safety as he moved across the fire-swept area to ensure the readiness of battery defenses. When a sapper force penetrated a sector of the friendly perimeter, he quickly deployed his small reaction unit and met the advancing enemy with a devastating volume of fire. During the ensuing battle, h repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile fire as he maneuvered his unit into advantageous positions from which to direct counteractions against the enemy soldiers. Alertly observing two of the enemy attempting to place satchel charges in an ammunition bunker, First Lieutenant Turner killed the hostile soldiers with accurate fire, thereby saving the valuable ordnance. Although sustaining painful wounds, he steadfastly refused medical treatment and continued to encourage and direct his men until assured that the perimeter was secured and that all seriously wounded Marines had been evacuated. His dynamic leadership and heroic actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in his unit accounting for nine enemy soldiers killed within the battery perimeter and over fifty killed forward of friendly positions. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, First Lieutenant Turner upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.