The  President  of  the  United  States  takes  pleasure  in  presenting  the SILVER STAR MEDAL to

For service as set forth in the following

               CITATION:

                  "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while  serving as
Senior Corpsman of Company I,  Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth  Marines, Third Marine Division  in connection with operations against  the enemy in the Repub- lic of  Vietnam.  On  the morning  of  9 April 1968,  while occupying a  defensive position on Hill  881 South near Khe Sanh, Company I suddenly came under an intense  North  Vietnamese mortar  attack and immediately sustained a casualty. Reacting  instantly,  Petty Officer  MATHIS  unhesitatingly  maneuvered  across the  fire-swept terrain to the side of  the injured man and assisted  him to a posi- tion of  relative safety.  Realizing  the  seriousness of  the situation,  he  skillfully administered  first aid to  his wounded comrade  and supervised  his evacuation. When  numerous additional  Marines were  wounded, he  fearlessly moved  from one position to  another, shielding  each man with his own body while providing medical  assistance.  While moving  to assist a  casualty, Petty  Officer  MATHIS suddenly came under a  heavy volume of  hostile small arms fire which  knocked him violently to the ground.  Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting near him, he resolutely  continued  to  advance  through  the  intense  fire  while  assisting  his wounded  comrades.  After the intensity of  the enemy  attack decreased, he  was supervising the evacuation of the wounded when  the Marines again came  under a heavy volume of hostile mortar  fire.  Disregarding his own safety, he fearlessly maneuvered  across  the  hazardous area  on two additional  occasions  and  ren- dered  vital medical treatment.  His  heroic actions  and sincere  concern for  the welfare  of his comrades in  the face of extreme personal danger inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of numerous Marines. By his courage, bold initiative and  selfless devotion to duty, Petty Officer MATHIS upheld  the  highest  traditions of  the  Marine  Corps and  of  the  United States Naval Service."