The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Scott O. Veitz (MCSN: 2184674), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Rein.), FMF. On 14 July 1968, the Third Battalion established a defensive perimeter southwest of Hill 55 near DaNang and Company I dispatched a reconnaissance patrol to observe enemy activity in the immediate area. As the patrol entered a small clearing approximately 200 meters from the perimeter, the Marines were suddenly pinned down by intense hostile fire which wounded one man. Learning of the situation, Lance Corporal Veitz volunteered to accompany a reaction force to assist the beleaguered units. As the Marines advanced to within forty meters of the besieged patrol, they came under a heavy volume of enemy automatic weapons fire. Realizing the urgency of evacuating the casualty, Lance Corporal Veitz completely disregarded his own safety as he unhesitatingly left his covered position and ran across the fire-swept terrain to the side of the injured man. Undaunted by the accurate fire impacting around him, he fearlessly pulled the wounded Marine approximately half way across the clearing before he was seriously wounded by the enemy fire. Unable to move the remaining distance to a position of relative safety, Lance Corporal Veitz selflessly placed his own body between the casualty and the hostile positions to protect his comrade from further injury. Inspired by his heroic actions, members of the reaction team ran across the hazardous terrain and assisted the wounded men to a covered area. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal Veitz was instrumental in saving the life of a fellow Marine and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.