Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Gunnery Sergeant Roy Allen Fryman (MCSN: 1356690), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Light Weapons Infantry Advisor to the Fourth Battalion, Fourth Regiment, SECOND Infantry Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evening of 24 August 1969, the Fourth Battalion was preparing a night defensive position in Quang Ngai Province when the men came under a heavy volume of mortar, rocket and automatic weapons fire supporting a vicious hostile ground attack against the flank company. Reacting instantly, Gunnery Sergeant Fryman moved to the point of heaviest contact to relay recommendations for subsequent actions from a better vantage point and, becoming engaged in the counterattack, killed one Viet Cong soldier. Sighting an abandoned enemy mortar, he boldly moved through the fusillade to capture the weapon and turn it against the advancing hostile soldiers, but while racing across the fire-swept terrain toward his objective, he was mortally wounded by enemy rifle fire. His heroic and aggressive actions inspired the friendly soldiers to maximum combat efforts and were instrumental in routing the enemy. Gunnery Sergeant Fryman’s courage, superb leadership and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Awards Received

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Staff Sergeant

    Batallion:

    1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion

    Division:

    1st Marine Division (Rein.) FMF

    Action Date:

    April 29, 1968
    Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Staff Sergeant Roy Allen Fryman (MCSN: 1356690), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism on 29 April 1968 as a Platoon Commander, First Force Reconnaissance Battalion, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, during operations against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Vietnam. While leading a long-range reconnaissance patrol through the southeastern portion of Phu Loc Valley, Thua Thien Province, Sergeant Fryman, hearing enemy troops approaching along the trail leading to the patrol’s position, immediately organized and triggered an ambush, firing bursts from his automatic rifle which killed one of the hostile soldiers, while the patrol killed another. During this brief fire fight, an enemy grenade landed in the position occupied by Sergeant Fryman and three companions. He quickly picked up the deadly missile and hurled it back at the enemy, killing another hostile soldier. Although suffering a slight concussion from the explosion, Sergeant Fryman steadfastly refused medical aid and moved his patrol 100 meters south of the trail where he deployed three-man ambush teams. Subsequently, he and his men succeeded in killing three more enemy troops and wounding two. Following this action, Sergeant Fryman prepared a landing zone for a medical helicopter in order to evacuate the wounded prisoners. He then established a defense perimeter and remained at the scene with the point man to halt the advance of a numerically superior enemy force while the rest of the unit withdrew from the area. As a result of Sergeant Fryman’s exceptional knowledge of patrol techniques and tactics, his patrol accomplished its hazardous mission without a single Marine casualty. His great personal valor, aggressive leadership, and unfaltering devotion to duty throughout these actions reflect the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service.