Vietnam Veteran Marine receives Silver Star

Former Marine earns Silver Star for Vietnam heroics
By Sgt. Raymond Lott
U. S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve
June 11, 2013

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.
What do you do when your platoon commander is killed?

One Marine knows the answer — take charge.

Sergeant Gary L. Hill, who completed his service in 1969, received the nation’s third-highest award for doing just that during a ceremony at the Tuscaloosa Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center here June 7, 2013.

Retired Gen. Charles C. Krulak, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, presented Hill with the Silver Star Medal for his leadership as a junior Marine during the Vietnam War.

“I only did what I had to do to stay alive, and that’s keep moving,” Hill said. “The Marine Corps raises everybody to be a leader if they need to be. If you’re the last man standing you’re the leader anyhow.”

Hill was almost one of those Marines until one day at church when a family friend, Jeff Brown, heard Hill’s story. Brown knew he needed to be recognized. So Brown made contact with retired Vietnam veteran Maj. Gen John Admire to make sure Hill received due credit.

Admire has been working for 40 years to recognize his Marines who served during Vietnam and Hill was no exception. Admire worked tirelessly on substantiating records until Hill was approved for the Silver Star Medal for his actions while Hill served with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

read more here