The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the

SILVER STAR MEDAL to

LCpl JOSEPH D. HENEBURY

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 Joseph David Henebury, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF, in connection with combat operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 December 1965, Lance Corporal Henebury was serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader in a search and destroy operation deep in enemy controlled territory, when his Company was viciously attacked from the front, rear and left flank by an estimated battalion of Viet Cong. Lance Corporal Henebury acted instantly in deploying his machine guns in the most advantageous positions. While the intense enemy fire persisted he valiantly exposed himself in order to administer first aid to three men, including the Corpsman, who had fallen in an open rice paddy after being wounded in the initial burst of fire. Shortly after he had assisted in moving the casualties to a sheltered area, his great personal valor was again put to test when he fearlessly raced back to the bullet-torn rice paddy to help remove crewmen from a helicopter which had been hit by automatic weapons fire as it attempted to land and evacuate the wounded. Once the injured crewmen were removed from the aircraft, he courageously made repeated trips to the wreckage, stripping it of ammunition and weapons and distributing the sorely needed supplies among his men. During his perilous task, Lance Corporal Henebury received gasoline burns on his feet when the helicopter's fuel tanks ruptured and burned. Steadfastly ignoring the painful burns, he continued to lead his squad for two days until the condition of his feet finally forced him to be evacuated. By his exceptional aggressiveness, courage, initiative, and uncommon concern for the welfare of his fellow Marines, Lance Corporal Henebury upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service."