The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Lawrence M. O’Neil (ASN: 0-530087), United States Army, for gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force while serving with Detachment A-503, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, in the Republic of Vietnam. Captain O’Neil distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 30 January 1968 as commander of a Special Forces mobile strike battalion on a reaction mission in Nha Trang. During the early morning hours, a combined force of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army soldiers had overrun an installation in the city, and Captain O’Neil quickly deployed two of his companies to retake the area occupied by the enemy. Fearlessly exposing himself to savage machine gun, automatic weapons and grenade fire, he directed a fierce attack on the insurgents’ fortified positions. When his deputy commander was critically wounded, Captain O’Neil raced through a hail of bullets, treated his fallen comrade and aided in carrying him to safety. He then moved throughout the raging battlefield and supervised the evacuation of other wounded troops. Braving the relentless hostile fusillade, Captain O’Neil rallied his men and led a furious assault against the enemy forces. He was seriously wounded and unable to move, but continued to encourage his men forward in their attack. His courageous and inspiring leadership in close combat was responsible for an overwhelming victory over the determined insurgents. Captain O’Neil’s gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.