Melvin D. Frazier

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Melvin D. Frazier (2366536), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman 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, Company B was attacking a large North Vietnamese Army force occupying fortified positions near the Khe Sanh Combat Base when the Marines suddenly came under a heavy volume of enemy mortar and small arms and automatic weapons fire. Disregarding his own safety, Private First Class Frazier unhesitatingly launched an aggressive assault upon the hostile positions and silenced two enemy machine gun emplacements. Although seriously wounded, he steadfastly refused medical evacuation and resolutely continued to maneuver forward in the attack and silenced the fire from several additional North Vietnamese positions. Alertly observing a wounded Marine lying in an area dangerously exposed to the enemy fire, he fearlessly moved across the hazardous are to the side of the injured man and assisted him to a covered position. His heroic and timely actions inspire all who observed him and were instrumental in his unit accounting for 115 North Vietnamese soldiers confirmed killed. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Private First Class Frazier upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.