The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Gary W. Walker (MCSN: 2446298), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 23 February 1969, the Second Platoon of Company M was dispatched to the Bo Ban area of Hieu Duc District in Quang Nam Province to assist a squad from another platoon which had become heavily engaged with a well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army battalion. Having reached their objective, the Marines commenced a search and destroy operation across a rice paddy covered with heavy grass and were immediately engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with hostile soldiers who had been concealed in the tall grass. Reacting instantly, Lance Corporal Walker skillfully placed his squad on line and, repeatedly exposing himself to the enemy fire, shouted words of encouragement to his men as they advanced across the rice paddy. Lance Corporal Walker’s superb leadership and tactical skill were instrumental in the death of twelve North Vietnamese Army soldiers and the withdrawal of the remainder to fortified positions in a nearby tree line on the Marines’ flank. When the platoon pivoted to assault the hostile emplacements, one of the squads became pinned down by the intense enemy fire and Lance Corporal Walker unhesitatingly employed his men as a reaction force, and enabled the beleaguered squad to deploy to a more tenable position. While fearlessly directing the devastating suppressive fire of his men, he observed a seriously wounded man attempting to carry another wounded Marine from a location directly under the hostile sniper locations and, with full knowledge that three other companions had been mortally wounded while trying to cross the same area, raced thirty-five meters across the fire-swept terrain to bring his injured comrade back to a place of relative safety. His heroic and determined efforts inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the life of a fellow Marine. By his courage, bold initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Walker contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.