Albert Moguel

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Albert Moguel (2384561), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 30 march 1968, during Operation SCOTLAND, Company B was engaged in patrol activities near the Khe Sanh Combat Base, when the lead elements came under intense mortar and automatic weapons fire from a well entrenched, numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force, temporarily pinning down the Marines and causing several casualties. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Private First Class Moguel completely disregarded his own safety as he unhesitatingly ran across the fire-swept terrain and aggressively assaulted two hostile bunkers. Upon reaching the fortified emplacements, he quickly killed our of the enemy with his pistol and successfully silenced the fire from both positions, enabling his unit to continue the attack. Subsequently wounded during a heavy North Vietnamese mortar barrage, he ignored his painful injuries as he resolutely remained behind to provide highly effective covering fire while the wounded were being evacuated. Only after all the casualties had been moved to positions of relative safety, would he allow himself to be medically evacuated. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to his unit accounting for 115 North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Private First Class Moguel upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.