The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Harold Thomas Ward, Jr. (MCSN: 0-77961), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action in the Republic of Vietnam on 16 and 17 September 1968. Major Ward was participating in Operation TOAM THANG 119 as Senior Marine Advisor to Task Force B, Vietnamese Marine Corps when a U.S. Marine advisor was seriously wounded, leaving two companies of the Vietnamese Marine Corps without and advisor and engaged in heavy contact with an enemy regiment. With calm deliberation, Major Ward summoned a command and control helicopter for the purpose of performing his duties as the Task Force Senior Advisor, and then directed the helicopter into the treacherous area of the two engaged companies. Upon loading the wounded into the helicopter, Major Ward observed the desperate situation that the two companies faced without an advisor to control U.S. supporting arms. Without hesitation he waved the helicopter off and voluntarily remained on the ground. With darkness rapidly approaching, the enemy force had completely surrounded the vastly outnumbered unit. Upon determining the precise location of all friendly elements, Major Ward ordered defensive concentrations of friendly artillery from four separate batteries. As darkness fell, the position of the two companies came under heavy fire from the determined enemy, using mortars, rockets and automatic weapons. Major Ward remained at his forward exposed position calling fire missions and adjusting artillery fire against the new ferociously attacking enemy. Throughout the night as enemy shrapnel and automatic weapons fire grazed within inches of his position, Major Ward persisted in his endeavors to defeat the enemy force. Through Major Ward’s heroic action, he not only saved the life of a seriously wounded Marine advisor but also effectively coordinated supporting friendly fires thereby materially contributing to the defeat of the North Vietnamese regiment. Major Ward’s devotion to duty, courage under fire and exemplary leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.