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02 Apr 2008
The President of the United States
takes pride in presenting the
NAVY CROSS
posthumously to
DARRELL E. AYERS
Staff Sergeant
United States Marine Corps
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Staff Sergeant Darrell E. Ayers, United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Sergeant with the First Force Reconnaissance Company, First Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 19 March 1970, Platoon Sergeant Ayers was leading a seven-man patrol on a mission to locate primary enemy infiltration routes in the western section of Quang Nam Province. Two days previously, the aircraft by which the team had been helilifted into the territory had come under intense hostile fire as the Marines were disembarking and, in the intervening period, Staff Sergeant Ayers had skillfully avoided any contact which would compromise his mission. As the Marines approached a small river which was spanned by a bamboo bridge, Staff Sergeant Ayers, realizing the danger of encountering the enemy at this position, moved ahead of the point man and accompanied by another Marine, reconnoitered the approach to the river. When the two men halted to analyze the surrounding terrain, they suddenly came under a heavy volume of automatic weapons fire from enemy soldiers concealed nearby. In an effort to shield his comrade, Staff Sergeant Ayers placed himself between the fusillade of hostile fire and his companion. Mortally wounded moments thereafter, Staff Sergeant Ayers, by his valiant and selfless efforts, was directly responsible for saving the life of a fellow Marine. His heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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I have worn your MIA bracelet for 40 years and will never forget...
From a brother vet,
Edd
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