Jimmy Erik Floren

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Jimmy Erik Floren (2325565), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company H, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on November 6, 1967. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Corporal Floren upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Jimmy Erik Floren (2325565), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company H, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 6 November 1967. During Operation ESSEX, near Quang Duc, Quang Nam Province, Corporal Floren’s company was taken under devastating small-arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire from a well-entrenched and numerically superior enemy force. During the initial burst of enemy fire, a Marine was wounded and fell in an open rice paddy, fifteen meters from an enemy machine gun emplacement. Quickly deploying his men, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Corporal Floren crawled across the fire swept terrain to the side of the injured man and moved him to a position of relative safety behind a rice paddy dike. Observing that all the members of a machine gun team were wounded and unable to operate the weapon, he moved forward, seized the weapon and began delivering intense fire in the enemy positions. Although in an exposed position, he continued to fire the weapon until it was rendered useless by enemy machine gun fire, which wounded him. Ignoring his wound, he seized an M-79 Grenade Launcher from a wounded Marine and fearlessly moved to a vantage point on top of a paddy dike from which he delivered accurate fire upon the enemy emplacements, until he was mortally wounded. By his bold initiative, gallant fighting spirit and loyal devotion to duty, Corporal Floren reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.