The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Bruce R. Wahlsten (MCSN: 2313619), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Tank Commander with Company B, First Tank Battalion, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. In the late afternoon of 21 February 1969, during a search and destroy operation, Corporal Wahlsten’s platoons was supporting Company D, First Battalion, Seventh Marines when it was hit by a heavy volume of automatic weapons, small arms, and rocket-propelled grenade fire from an estimated North Vietnamese Army battalion, his well-concealed entrenched positions. When the tank commanded by Corporal Wahlsten was hit by a rocket round, the driver, killed instantly, depressed the accelerator ceasing the tank to hurl directly into the entrenched enemy positions. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Corporal Wahlsten, with complete disregard for his own safety, left the turret, thereby exposing himself to the heavy volume of enemy fire and, although painful wounded, moved to the front of the tank and removed the body of the driver from the compartment. Continuing to display exceptional courage, he returned to the tank, commander’s cupola and encouraged his wounded loader to drive the tank as he himself began to place accurate .50 caliber machine gun fire on the enemy positions. Covering the withdrawing infantry, while simultaneously directing the tank’s withdrawal from the fire-swept area, Corporal Wahlsten attended his wounded comrades until the corpsman arrived. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed immeasurably to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Corporal Wahlsten upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.