The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Henry M. Twilling, III (MCSN: 2140441), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company K, Third Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 24 May 1968 during Operation Allen Brook in Quang Nam Province, Company K was attacking a well fortified village occupied by a large North Vietnamese Army force. Immediately encountering heavy small arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire, Lance Corporal TWILLING’s platoon sustained numerous casualties and was pinned down in an open rice paddy. Realizing the seriousness of the situation and aware that the casualties could not be evacuated unless the enemy fire was suppressed, Lance Corporal TWILLING, with five other Marines, crossed the paddy and reached the enemy-held tree line. Firing his machine gun as he advanced, he disregarded his own safety as he maneuvered to within thirty meters of an enemy bunker. Although seriously wounded by sniper fire, he ignored his injury as he aggressively assaulted the fortified position single-handed and destroyed it with a hand grenade. Despite his weakened condition due to loss of blood and the tropical heat, he killed two enemy soldiers concealed in spider holes with hand grenades before returning to his unit’s position. His heroic and determined actions suppressed the hostile fire sufficiently to allow his fellow Marines to continue the attack and evacuate the wounded. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal TWILLING was instrumental in the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.