The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the

SILVER STAR MEDAL to

              PRIVATE FIRST CLASS PAUL D. ALLEN

             UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following

    CITATION

        “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company F, Second Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in action against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 28 February 1966, during Operation NEW YORK in Thua Thien Province, Private First Class Allen's company was subjected to intense machine gun fire from a well entrenched battalion-sized Viet Cong force. Sighting the location of an enemy machine gun, Private First Class Allen and two other Marines in his team launched an assault in an attempt to silence the hostile gun position. As the Marines raced across 70 meters of fire-raked open terrain, the Viet Cong concentrated their fire on them, mortally wounding both of Private First Class Allen's companions. Crawling to his stricken team leader, Private First Class Allen ignored the vicious battle action to give medical treatment until he was relieved by a Corpsman. Although still under heavy fire, he disassembled and cleaned the machine gun, which had become clogged with sand, then courageously placed himself in an even more hazardous position in order to bring accurate fire on the enemy. Through his heroic and daring effort, the enemy force was distracted long enough to allow other elements of Company F to advance to more advantageous firing positions. Private First Class Allen's extraordinary courage and superior professional skill were significant factors in the success of the engagement in which 178 Viet Cong were killed, and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service". 

                                   For the President,

Paul D. Allen

Commandant of the Marine Corps