The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR Medal to

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS VINCENT N. CHIOFOLO
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with, Company K, Third Battalion, Twenty-Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 17 May 1968, during Operation Allen Brook, Company K launched an attack on a well entrenched North Vietnamese Army force near Le Bac in Quang Nam Province and immediately came under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Private First Class CHIOFOLO immediately commenced delivering a heavy volume of rifle fire into the fortified emplacements, which enabled a machine gun team to move forward and engage the enemy. In the ensuing fire fight, the team became pinned down, and when the M-60 machine gun malfunctioned, Private First Class CHIOFOLO fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain in an attempt to draw the fire and attention of the enemy away from his comrades. Delivering accurate fire into the hostile emplacements, he succeeded in diverting the enemy fire, enabling the Marines to maneuver to positions of relative safety. Alertly observing three North Vietnamese soldiers launching a determined assault upon his comrades, he boldly exposed himself to the intense hostile fire and aggressively engaged the enemy soldiers, killing two of them. Although seriously wounded by a hostile sniper, he ignored his painful injury and steadfastly remained in his hazardous position, until forcibly restrained and moved to a covered position by fellow Marines_ His resolute determination and heroic actions inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission_ By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Private First Class CHIOFOLO upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Navel Service.