Robert L. Grace

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Robert L. Grace, Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Assistant Patrol Leader with Company A, First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 14 June 1970, while patrolling in a heavily-jungled area south of DaNang, Corporal Grace’s eight-man reconnaissance team came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army battalion occupying several well-concealed emplacements. While his team quickly formed a tight defensive perimeter, Corporal Grace, realizing the need for frontal security, boldly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain to a location approximately fifty meters forward of his companions. Although virtually cut off from his team and subjected to a heavy volume of fire from waves of assaulting hostile soldiers, he valiantly maintained his dangerously exposed position in an effort to slow the enemy advance with his accurate suppressive fire. Directed to return to the defensive perimeter when fixed-wing aircraft arrived on station, he fearlessly moved through the jungle growth, spraying his footsteps with fire, thereby effectively preventing any member of the North Vietnamese Army unit from following him and breaching the friendly position. As the engagement continued, the enemy fire and determined attacks increased in intensity, despite repeated strafing by supporting aircraft, but Corporal Grace’s vigorous defense of his sector of the perimeter was a telling factor in preventing the hostile soldiers from overrunning the small Marine unit, although at times the soldiers approached to within a few feet of the beleaguered reconnaissance team. When the grandier was severely wounded, Corporal Grace, with no thought for his own safety, rushed to the side of the casualty to aid him and, while providing covering fire, was himself wounded but, seemingly oblivious to the rounds impacting around him, he resolutely remained to comfort his companion until he was joined by a corpsman. Aware that considerable ammunition had been expended, he then boldly moved from one Marine position to another to resupply his companions and to encourage them to exert maximum combat effort. With the arrival of a transport helicopter, which immediately became a vulnerable target for the hostile soldiers, Corporal Grace assisted in embarking one of the two casualties sustained by the team then, standing in full view of the enemy, provided withering covering fire until all the team was safely aboard. By his indomitable courage, bold initiative, and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Corporal Grace was undoubtedly instrumental in preventing excessive Marine casualties and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.