The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
SILVER STAR MEDAL to
Sgt GEORGE A. EMERICK
United States Marine Corps
For service as set forth in the following
CITATION:(Synopsis in lieu of copy of actual Citation)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant George A. Emerick, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Squad Leader with Company I, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, during Operation STARLITE in Quang Ngai Province, Republic of Vietnam. On 18 August 1965, while Company I pursued insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces, after engaging them at An Cuong (2) village, Sergeant Emerick's quad was ordered to remain behind as security for a downed helicopter. With subsequent repair and departure of the helicopter, Sergeant Emerick and his squad joined the rear of an adjacent unit. Noticing another helicopter firing at unknown targets to his rear, Sergeant Emerick deployed his squad and immediately came under fire by approximately forty Viet Cong guerrillas. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Sergeant Emerick repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire in order to direct the fire of his men. Although outnumbered, the squad repulsed the enemy and inflicted heavy casualties. With two of his men wounded and another killed, Sergeant Emerick sent the rest of the squad for assistance while he remained to protect the casualties from capture. After driving back repeated enemy probes and realizing that help could not arrive in time, he assisted the wounded to safety and returned under enemy small arms and mortar fire with two other Marines to recover the body of the dead Marine. In the course of his courageous actions, Sergeant Emerick surprised and captured two guerrillas. By his daring actions and inspiring devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk, Sergeant Emerick upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
