Robert E. Zimmerman

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Robert E. Zimmerman (0-95176), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company L, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 22 February 1968 during Operation Hue City, First Lieutenant Zimmerman’s company was assigned the mission of seizing an enemy-held village in the city. As the leading elements crossed a bridge which separated the unit from its objective, the Marines suddenly came under intense automatic weapons fire from concealed North Vietnamese Army positions. The heavy volume of enemy fire inflicted numerous casualties and pinned down the main body of the company on the opposite end of the bridge. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, First Lieutenant Zimmerman unhesitatingly left his position of relative safety with the leading elements and ran back across the fire-swept bridge to assist the beleaguered Marines. Fearlessly exposing himself to the hostile fire, he quickly reorganized the remaining two platoons and supervised the evacuation of the wounded. Then, coordinating the fire of a supporting tank with the fire of his men on the enemy emplacements, he effectively suppressed the enemy fire, enabling the Marines to continue the attack and seize their objective. By his courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, First Lieutenant Zimmerman was instrumental in the accomplishment of his unit’s mission and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.