During the Vietnam War there were 3 MEDALS OF HONOR, 19 NAVY CROSS, 64 SILVER STAR CITATIONS, 7 NAVY CROSS CITATIONS awarded to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

Presidential Unit Citation were issued to units of 2/5, one for Operation Hue City:

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But there were others:

Presidential Unit Citation With Two Silver And Three Bronze Stars
Vietnam
1966
1966 – 1967
1967
1967 – 1968
1968
1968 – 1969

Presidential Unit Citation With Two Silver And Three Bronze Stars
Vietnam
1968 – 1969

Presidential Unit Citation With Two Silver And Three Bronze Stars
Vietnam
1968
1969

If anyone has copies of these citations we'd like to post them here. Please contact the webmaster <---click

We would like to add that the below is not an all-inclusive list since some of the records did not indicate the unit of all the Marines who received the Silver Star and we were unable to obtain all of the Silver Star Citations.

Regretfully, the citations for the Navy Corpsman were incomplete so there are no names listed for the most courageous men ever to serve in the Corps!

We would like to thank William Myers for allowing us to use the information he has provided us from his book, "HONOR THE WARRIOR" The United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. Published by Redoubt Press, 183 Steiner Road #17, Lafayette, LA. 70508-6000 (e-mail: redoubt@bellsouth.net)

*Posthumous Citation

MEDAL OF HONOR

SILVER STAR CITATIONS

NAVY CROSS CITATIONS

Corporal Leroy Brantley
For service as set forth in the following
Navy Cross Citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Squad Leader with Company G, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam on 28 March 1969. During a search and clear operation in the Quang Nam Province, Company G’s lead platoon was entering the village of Phu Nhuan (1) when it came under intense rocket and automatic weapons fire from a North Vietnamese Army Company occupying well fortified positions in the village and surrounding tree lines. Reacting instantly Corporal Brantley completely disregarded his own safety as he maneuvered his squad to defilade positions and skillfully directed the delivery of a heavy volume of return fire.

Although seriously wounded while deploying his men, he ignored his own painful injury and repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he rallied his men and boldly led them in an assault against the enemy. Wounded a second time by North Vietnamese fire, Corporal Brantley refused medical attention as he valiantly remained with his men to sustain the momentum of the attack. Fearlessly directing the actions of his squad and exhorting them to greater efforts, he was struck for the third time by hostile fire. Undaunted by the North Vietnamese rounds impacting near him and weakened by his serious injuries, Corporal Brantley resolutely continued to move his men and direct their actions and, as he boldly pushed through the tree line toward a suspected hostile emplacement, he was mortally wounded. His intrepid fighting spirit and daring initiative inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit’s mission. By his courage, superb leadership and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Brantley upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Captain George R. Christmas
For service as set forth in the following
Navy Cross Citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving as the Commanding Officer of Company H, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the afternoon of 5 February 1968 during Operation HUE CITY, Company H was attacking a complex of buildings known to be an enemy strong point consisting of mutually supporting bunkers, fighting holes, and trench lines. During the ensuing firefight, two platoons seized the corner building of a city block, but intense small arms, automatic weapons, and B-40 rocket fire temporarily halted the advance. Realizing the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need to sustain the momentum of the attack, Captain Christmas, undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire, completely disregarded his own safety as he moved across thirty-five meters of open area to join the lead element and assess the situation. Returning across the fire-swept area, he rejoined the remaining platoon, issued an attack order, and then ran seventy meters across open terrain, ignoring automatic weapons fire, hand grenades, and satchel charges striking around him to reach a tank he had requested. Braving enemy fire and two B-40 rockets that hit the tank, he fearlessly stood atop the vehicle to direct accurate fire against the hostile positions until the intensity of the enemy fire diminished. Immediately realizing the tactical advantage, he jumped from the tank, and directed his company in an aggressive assault on the hostile positions, personally leading his men in room-to-room fighting until the building complex was secured. In large measure due to his bold initiative and courageous actions, he provided the impetus, which inspired his men to aggressive action and enabled them to successfully accomplish the mission. By his dynamic leadership, unfaltering determination and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Captain Christmas upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United Naval Service.

Corporal Jimmy E. Floren
For service as set forth in the following
Navy Cross Citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company H, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on 6 November 1967. During Operation ESSEX, near Quang Duc, Quang Nam Province, Corporal Floren’s company was taken under devastating small arms, automatic weapons and mortar fire from a well-entrenched and numerically superior enemy force. During the initial burst of enemy fire, a Marine was wounded and fell in an open rice paddy, fifteen meters from an enemy machinegun emplacement. Quickly deploying his men, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Corporal Floren crawled across the fireswept terrain to the side of the injured man and moved him to a position of relative safety behind a rice paddy dike. Observing that all the members of a machine-gun team were wounded and unable to operate the weapon, he moved forward, seized the weapon and began delivering intense fire in the enemy positions. Although in an exposed position, he continued to fire the weapon until it was rendered useless by enemy machine-gun fire, which wounded him. Ignoring his wound, he seized an M-79 Grenade Launcher from a wounded Marine and fearlessly moved to a vantage point on top of a paddy dike from which he delivered accurate fire upon the enemy emplacements, until he was mortally wounded. Corporal Floren upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Sergeant Ronald B. Helle
For service as set forth in the following
Navy Cross Citation

For extraordinary heroism while participating in a pacification operation in the vicinity of Combat Base Baldy with his unit, which was located in a popular force, compound in the Moo Bai District, Republic of Vietnam. On the night of 28 January 1971, Sergeant Helle, an artillery scout and observer with Company G, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines was sitting in the command post and talking with other members of his unit and a newspaper correspondent. Stepping outside to make a routine check of the area, Sergeant Helle was struck on the back of the head by an object, which he quickly recognized to be a grenade. He then threw himself upon the missile and alerted everyone to take cover, following which he stood up and hurled the grenade out of the compound. By his prompt and courageous action in the face of almost certain death or serious injury to himself and other men in the vicinity, Sergeant Helle upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Lance Corporal Edward F. Starrett
For service as set forth in the following
Navy Cross Citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Mortar Gunner with Company G, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 9 December 1970, while occupying a position in defense of a hamlet in Que Son District of Quang Nam Province, a unit of Marines and Regional Forces soldiers came under ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force supported by intense mortar and rocket-propelled grenade fire. During the initial moments of the assault, Lance Corporal Starrett was wounded when an enemy mortar damaged the bunker in which he was located. Although momentarily stunned, he recovered quickly and ran across the fire-swept terrain to his mortar position. As he commenced firing illumination rounds, a grenade landed in the pit he occupied, but he escaped further injury by quickly diving out of the emplacement. Returning to his gun, he found it inoperable and also observed that some of the hostile soldiers had penetrated the defensive perimeter. Observing one of the enemy preparing to hurl a hand grenade at the communications center, he prevented the action with an accurate burst of fire. Lance Corporal Starrett then commenced firing at the advancing enemy soldiers and immediately became a target for enemy grenades. Although wounded again, he continued his vigorous defense of the position, accounting for two more hostile soldiers and preventing further penetration at that point. Later, he stood in full view of the enemy, and seemingly oblivious to the grenades detonating around him, fired round after round into the attacking unit. Sustaining numerous casualties, the enemy was forced to retreat. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, Lance Corporal Starrett was greatly instrumental in repelling a determined enemy force and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Corporal Roger O. Warren
For service as set forth in the following
Navy Cross Citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Machine Gunner with Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 3 February 1968, during Operation HUE CITY, Corporal Warren’s platoon was taken under intense enemy automatic weapons and rocket fire as they attempted to assault the city’s Treasury Building. As the unit entered a large courtyard, one Marine was seriously wounded by a sudden burst of hostile fire and was unable to move from his exposed position. Corporal Warren, who had been wounded earlier, ignored his own painful injuries and courageously ran into the open courtyard under intense enemy fire. Disregarding his own personal safety, he commenced firing his machine gun from the hip at suspected enemy positions until he depleted his supply of ammunition. Quickly reloading his weapon, he once again placed fire on the enemy allowing the casualty to be evacuated. On 5 February, as he was delivering a heavy volume of suppressive fire on the enemy from the second story window o a building, he was suddenly hurled through the wall into the adjoining room by two enemy rocket rounds. Wounded in both legs and temporarily stunned by the force of the explosion, he was carried downstairs and placed with six other casualties awaiting treatment. Realizing the heavy enemy fire was preventing expeditious evacuation of the casualties; he exposed himself to the intense enemy fire and brought accurate M-16 fire to bear on the enemy. Assured that the more severe casualties had been evacuated, he allowed himself to be evacuated and helped carry a wounded comrade to the aid station. Despite his several wounds, he refused medical evacuation and elected to return to his unit due to the shortage of qualified machine gunners. Upon returning to his unit, Corporal Warren directed intense fire on the enemy positions. He gallantly continued to perform his duties until the seriousness of his wounds caused him to be evacuated on 10 February 1969. By his intrepid fighting spirit, exceptional fortitude, bold initiative and devotion to his fellow Marines, Corporal Warren reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Corporal Lloyd Woods
For service as set forth in the following
Navy Cross Citation

For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Radio Operator with Company F, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced) in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 2 June 1967. During Operation UNION II, Corporal Wood’s company came under intense enemy automatic weapons, small arms and mortar fire which temporarily pinned down the first platoon in an exposed rice paddy. In the initial burst of fire, the platoon sustained numerous casualties, including the platoon commander. Upon observing his wounded commander lying exposed to the intense enemy fire, he unhesitatingly ran through the heavy volume of fire to his side, placed him on his shoulder and carried him to a position of relative safety. Then, rallying four companions, he again moved across the open rice paddy to evacuate another wounded Marine who was lying in close proximity to an enemy machine gun position. Upon reaching the wounded man and realizing it was impossible to move him because of the enemy machine gun fire, he boldly maneuvered into the tree line towards the enemy position, and single-handedly assaulted the gun, killing the gunner and capturing his weapon. He boldly leaped into the adjacent emplacement and, in fierce hand-to-hand combat, killed that gunner and commenced to fire the enemy machine gun against other hostile positions, providing cover while his companions evacuated the wounded man. As a result of Corporal Woods’ courageous actions, his unit was able to regroup and succeeded in evacuating its casualties to positions of safety. By his intrepid fighting spirit, exceptional fortitude and gallant initiative, Corporal Woods inspired all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.