The President of the United States

takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously)

to Stephen D. McGee (2231850), Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps,

for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company M, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), in connection with operations in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the afternoon of 9 May 1968, Corporal McGee was a member of a patrol which fired on and wounded a North Vietnamese soldier near the Company M defensive position in Quang Tri Province. When the enemy soldier fled into the dense foliage, a fire team commenced searching the area and immediately came under intense hostile fire, which wounded one of the Marines. Observing that several other men were wounded in an attempt to reach the injured man who lay exposed to enemy fire, Corporal McGee completely disregarded his own safety and fearlessly ran to assist the casualty to a position of relative security. Seriously wounded and knocked to the ground by hostile fire, he ignored his own painful injury and continued to advance toward his fallen comrade until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. By his courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty at the risk of his own life, Corporal McGee upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.