The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a gold star in lieu of the second BRONZE STAR MEDAL to

for service as set forth in the following

                 CITATION:

                         “For  heroic achievement  in connection  with operations against insurgent  communist  (Viet   Cong)  forces in  the   Republic  of  Vietnam  while serving  as Commanding Officer of Company I,  Third  Battalion,  Twenty-Sixth Marines,   Third  Marine   Division.    On   20   June   1968,    First    Lieutenant ESSLINGER  maneuvered  the  lead  elements  of  his  company  onto an advan- tageous  terrain  feature  near  Thong Duc in  Quang Nam  Province  to  provide security  for a truck convoy moving through the area.   As the  remainder of  the company  moved across a large clearing,  The Marines suddenly  came under in- tense hostile mortar fire and sustained three casualties.  Completely disregarding his own safety,  First Lieutenant ESSLINGER  ran into the  hazardous area  and ignored  the  enemy  rounds  impacting  near him as he quickly  maneuvered  his men  to the  relative safety of  the objective.   When a  medical  evacuation  heli- copter subsequently landed 200 meters from  the designated zone, he carried one of  his wounded  comrades to  the aircraft  and supervised  the expeditious evac- uation of the remaining casualties.  After the convoy had passed by his position, First Lieutenant ESSLINGER coordinated his unit’s withdrawal with supporting arms fire and had moved one-half of  his company across the open terrain when the  lead elements came  under a heavy volume  of hostile  mortar  fire.  Rapidly assessing the situation,  he immediately directed  the delivery of counter  mortar fire and  unhesitatingly ran across  the fire-swept area to reach his lead  platoon. Locating a  tree line approximately  500 meters away  which was  out of range of the enemy weapons, he skillfully led his men through the hostile fire to the  rela- tive  safety of  the tree line.   Informed that a wounded  Marine remained  in  the clearing,  he  boldly  returned  to  the  hazardous  area  and  carried  the  injured Marine  back to  his company.   First  Lieutenant  ESSLINGER’s courage,  bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty  at great personal  risk were  instrumental in saving the lives of several fellow Marines and were in keeping with the highest traditions of he Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.”

First Lieutenant ESSLINGER is authorized to wear the Combat “V”.

First Lieutenant ESSLINGER is authorized to wear the Combat "V".