The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal William G. Wade (MCSN: 2012781), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company L, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 21 March 1966. While conducting a search and destroy operation in the Viet Cong controlled village of Tech An Noi, the company suddenly received heavy and extremely accurate small arms and machine gun fire from approximately seventy-five well entrenched Viet Cong positions only fifty meters from the company’s front. The initial burst of fire killed four Marines and wounded eleven others. Corporal Wade observed his squad leader lying thirty meters in front of the squad position, wounded in both legs and still exposed to deadly fire. With utter disregard for his own safety, Corporal Wade leaped from the security of his covered position and ran forward thirty meters through a hail of bullets across flat, open ground to the aid of his squad leader. Undaunted, he reached the wounded Marine and daringly attempted to pull him to safety. While performing this valorous act he was shot in the neck and mortally wounded. Corporal Wade’s heroic action and fearless courage served to inspire the men of his unit to overcome the enemy opposition. He gallantly gave his life for his country.