Mike & H&S Companies 

Third Battalion, Fifth Marines

Veterans of the Vietnam War

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

 SERGEANT HOWARD TAPSCOTT MANFRA, JR.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

For service as set forth in the following

 CITATION:

           For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Antitank Assault Squad Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 4 September 1967, Company M was conducting a search and destroy operation when the Marines came under a heavy volume of mortar and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force. Reacting instantly, Sergeant MANFRA skillfully deployed his team in positions which gave them the most effective fields of fire into the camouflaged enemy emplacements. Then, exposing himself to the intense hostile fire, he unhesitatingly stood erect and alertly located two enemy emplacements. Seizing a 3.5 inch rocket launcher, he calmly fired one rocket which destroyed a North Vietnamese mortar position and killed four enemy soldiers. Despite sustaining a painful leg wound, he fearlessly stood up again and fired on a second target. Although wounded again, he resolutely continued his determined efforts to silence the hostile mortars by directing his team’s fire as he lay critically wounded in his dangerously exposed position. While attempting to seek cover, he was struck by enemy fire, which rendered him unconscious. His bold initiative and and heroic efforts inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of numerous Marines. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

FOR THE PRESIDENT,

H. W. BUSE, JR.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL,  U. S. MARINE CORPS

COMMANDING GENERAL, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC