The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the

SILVER STAR MEDAL to

                 LANCE CORPORAL LARRY GENE BEARD

   

           UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following

                   CITATION:

                              The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lance Corporal Larry Gene Beard, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gunner with Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 May 1968, Company H, reinforced by Lance Corporal Beard's platoon, was conducting a search and clear operation in the vicinity of Khe Sanh when it engaged an entrenched North Vietnamese Army company. As his platoon advanced, it came under intense hostile fire which killed the platoon commander. After three unsuccessful attempts to retrieve the fallen officer, the platoon withdrew to covered positions while air strikes were conducted against the enemy's hill top positions. Subsequently, the unit proceeded up the hill and Lance Corporal Beard moved to a bomb crater only thirty feet from the North Vietnamese emplacements to provide covering fire for a team attempting to recover the casualty. Completely disregarding his own safety, he stood up and, firing his machine gun from the hip, delivered a heavy volume of fire at the enemy. Although the enemy threw hand grenades at his position, he remained in the open providing suppressive fire while several of his companions rushed forward and successfully recovered the casualty only ten feet from the hostile emplacements. Just as the recovery team reached safety, Lance Corporal Beard was wounded in the stomach by hostile fire. By his courage, gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty at great personal risk, Lance Corporal Beard upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

For the President,

THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20550-1000

Larry Gene Beard