SILVER STAR MEDAL to SECOND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM C. HASKELL UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS For service as set forth in the following CITATION: FOR THE
PRESIDENT H. W. BUSE,
JR. LIEUTENANT
GENERAL, U. S. MARINE CORPS COMMANDING
GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting
the
For
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon
Commander with Company K, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine
Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of
Vietnam. On the morning of 9 March 1969, a squad from Second Lieutenant
Haskell’s platoon had established an ambush east of Mai Loc in Quang Tri
Province when the Marines became heavily engaged with a North Vietnamese
Army company. Realizing the need for immediate action, Second Lieutenant
Haskell quickly led the remainder of his platoon through enemy controlled
territory to the beleaguered unit. Arriving at the ambush position, he
skillfully maneuvered his platoon across the fire-swept terrain, boldly
shouting words of encouragement to the men and directing their accurate
suppressive fire upon the hostile unit. Undaunted by the enemy rounds
impacting nearby, he fearlessly adjusted supporting arms fire upon the
North Vietnamese emplacements and coordinated the movement of tanks and
infantry units until the enemy was forced to flee in panic and confusion.
Determined to exploit the hostile contact to the maximum extent, he
adjusted artillery fire upon the retreating hostile soldiers, which
completely disorganized and decimated the North Vietnamese company. By his
courage, aggressive leadership and unwavering devotion to duty at great
personal risk, Second Lieutenant Haskell was instrumental in the Marines’
accounting for over twenty enemy soldiers killed and upheld the highest
traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
