The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Theodore Woods (MCSN: 2186943), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with Company B, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 June 1969, Corporal Woods’ unit was participating in a combat operation near the village of An Bang when the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army force occupying well-fortified emplacements. Reacting instantly, Corporal Woods skillfully maneuvered his men in a movement against the enemy’s flank but, as he crossed a fire-swept rice paddy, was seriously wounded in the left shoulder. Disregarding his painful injury, he resolutely continued the aggressive assault upon the hostile force, resulting in eleven soldiers killed and the seizure of seven weapons. When a medical evacuation helicopter attempted to land, it was forced down by fire from North Vietnamese soldiers occupying a nearby hamlet. Corporal Wood, then reorganized his men and led them in a determined attack against the hamlet. Halted by the vicious explosions of satchel charges and intense automatic weapons fire, he rallied his men and was again advancing toward the hamlet when he was severely wounded in the right shoulder. Unable to hold his weapon, he refused medical attention and resolutely continued shouting fire directions to his men as he exhorted them to greater efforts which enabled them to overrun the hamlet on the third attempt. By his courage, aggressive initiative and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal Woods inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.