For
heroic achievement in connection with operations against the
enemy in the Republic of Vietnam while serving as a Radio
Operator with Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First
Marine Division.
On
8 May 1968 during Operation HOUSTON II, Company M became heavily
engaged with an estimated North Vietnamese Army battalion.
Realizing that his company occupied a position of the enemy,
Private First Class ALEGRIA volunteered to move to a vantage
point where he could better observe the hostile force and
its movements.
Ignoring
the intense North Vietnamese small arms and automatic weapons
fire around him, he moved to a position that afforded good
observation and immediately requested the artillery forward
observer to call in an artillery fire mission. While artillery
fire support was being delivered on the hostile emplacements,
Private First Class ALEGRIA relayed accurate adjustments to
the artillery forward observer, contributing materially to
the effectiveness of the employment of artillery of artillery
fire. In addition, he provided the necessary adjustments to
the forward air controller during numerous air strikes against
the North Vietnamese.
Completely
disregarding his own safety, he displayed exceptional courage
and sound, tactical judgment as he remained in his position
and directed supporting fire and close air support during
the following three days. Returning to his platoon on 12 May,
he was assigned the duties of Squad Leader. When his platoon
assaulted the final company objective, he skillfully maneuvered
his men and directed their fire, successfully overrunning
the enemy positions and accounting for four North Vietnamese
soldiers confirmed killed.
Private
First Class ALEGRIA's courage, bold initiative and selfless
devotion to duty at great personal risk contributed significantly
to the accomplishment of his unit's mission and were in keeping
with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the
United States Naval Service.
Private
First Class ALEGRIA is authorized to wear the Combat "V".
FOR
THE PRESIDENT,
H.W.
BUSE JR.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS
COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC
